President & CEO
Matt Cookson
If you’re reading this to learn about Matt, you’re among the minority who don’t already know him. He has helped many local and national organizations and businesses implement communications strategies to become more visible to their customers and clientele (and he has more LinkedIn connections than most people even know).
Background
Matt has worked in the communications field for more than three decades, leading communications efforts in higher education, government, technology, nonprofit and healthcare sectors. Prior to launching his company in 2010, Matt was the associate vice chancellor of external relations at the University System of New Hampshire. He has special experience in the tech sector; Matt was the executive director of the NH Tech Alliance for nearly 10 years and spent several years heading up public affairs at PC Connection. He also spent some time in government relations – he served as press secretary for a member of Congress, legislative assistant for a governor and was legislative director at NH’s largest state agency – the NH Department of Health and Human Services.
Matt is a co-founder of Stay Work Play New Hampshire and serves on the following boards:
Education: Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of Connecticut; Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and English from the University of Connecticut; 2003 associate of Leadership New Hampshire; 2019 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumnus.
In 2009, Matt was voted as one of Business New Hampshire Magazine’s 25 Leaders of the Future. In 2019, Matt was listed by New Hampshire Business review as one of the 200 most influential business leaders in the state.
Passions
Encouraging businesses large and small to launch and thrive in New Hampshire: Matt helped found the organization Stay Work Play New Hampshire, mentors entrepreneurs, offers advice to business and policy leaders, and teaches public relations courses as an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Hampshire.
Boating, tennis, skiing, cooking, writing and family: hiking in the woods or being on the ocean, Matt enjoys spending time with loved ones, especially at his rustic camp in mid-coast Maine. It’s his favorite place to work and write.
More of the Cookson Team
Matt Cookson
President & CEO
Meredith Noyes
Chief Creative Officer
Kristen Lestock
Vice President of Communications & Client Engagement
John Desmond
Strategic Operations Manager
Jennifer Sperazzo
Senior Account Manager
Jason Boucher
Director of Social Marketing
Steve Morin
Web Services Manager
Skylar Curtis
Graphic Designer
Emma Pedersen
Design & Digital Specialist
Deb LaPress
Accounting & Finance Director
Charlotte Ulrich
Account Coordinator
Wendy Ducharme
Writer
