Matt Richardson

Deputy IT / GIS Director | Jackson County, Michigan

About

Strategic and results-driven technology executive with 20+ years of leadership experience overseeing the integrity, security, and evolution of municipal IT infrastructure. Matt brings a rare combination of hands-on technical depth and executive-level vision — equally at home in the server room and the boardroom. He is known for building high-performing teams, forging cross-agency partnerships, and translating complex technology challenges into practical, cost-effective solutions for local government.

Professional Experience

Deputy IT / GIS Director

Jackson County, Michigan · December 2022 – Present

Serving in an executive technology role for Jackson County, overseeing IT and GIS operations with a focus on infrastructure integrity, security, and alignment with county-wide strategic goals.

Director of Information Technology

Lenawee County, Michigan · January 1999 – December 2022 (24 years)

Led IT operations across 29 county departments and 15 municipal buildings, managing five direct reports and a technology environment spanning 400+ workstations, 100+ servers, and 3,000+ network devices.

Certifications & Education

• 🎓 AI Leadership Academy — PDA Leadership (2025)
• 🤖 AI Evaluation — AIcred.ai
• 🏛️ Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO) — UNC Chapel Hill (2009–2010)
• 🔍 Certificate in Computer Forensic Investigations — Eastern Michigan University / Center for Regional and National Security (2007)
• 🚨 NIMS/ICS Certifications (ICS-100 through ICS-800) — FEMA Emergency Management Institute (2008–2013)
• 📚 Undergraduate studies at Pensacola Christian College and Jackson College

Core Competencies

Leadership: Project Management · Strategic Planning · Policy Implementation · Mentoring · Regulatory Compliance · Cross-Functional Collaboration

Technical: Microsoft · VMware ESXi/vSphere/vCenter · Cisco · AWS · SAN Storage · Firewalls · Virtualization

Operations: Computer Forensics · Disaster Recovery · Network Design · LAN/WAN/VPN · Cloud Infrastructure · Risk Mitigation · System Security

Professional Affiliations

• GMIS (Government Management Information Sciences) — Member since 2009
• MiGMIS (Michigan Chapter) — Current Board Member and Member since 2001
• LISD (Lenawee Intermediate School District) — Advisory Board, Computer Information Services, since 2005
• LEPC (Lenawee County Homeland Security & Local Emergency Planning Committee) — Board Member, 2004–2022

Based in Jackson, Michigan.