Matt Harrington always hoped to make a difference in the world one day. Today, as the president and CEO of LOGAN Community Resources, Inc., he’s doing just that — leading an organization dedicated to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Growing up in Valparaiso, Harrington graduated from Valparaiso High School and went on to Indiana University Bloomington. There, he enrolled in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
“I wanted to do something that could make a difference in the world,” Harrington said. “At the time, I wasn’t exactly sure what that looked like, but what drew me to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs was its broad scope. It touched on a lot of areas — business, government, public affairs, environmental management.”
After earning his degree, Harrington worked in sales management for about 11 years. During this time, he and his wife had their third daughter, which brought about a turning point in his career.
“Having our third child gave me a moment to stop, reflect, and think about what I wanted to do next in life,” Harrington said. “At that time, I felt called to do something more. I took a leap of faith and went to the nonprofit sector.”
This led Harrington to a fundraising and marketing role at Madison Center, Inc., a behavioral health organization. After about a year, he began working at LOGAN, initially in a fundraising role before taking on some additional responsibilities — promoting and developing employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supporting marketing efforts, and helping to launch LOGAN’s autism services in Southwest Michigan.
After about eight years at LOGAN, Harrington’s career path took him to the United Way of St. Joseph County for a brief tenure, where he served as president and CEO. However, in 2017, he returned to LOGAN, this time as its president and CEO.
“The mission of LOGAN is near and dear to my and my family's heart,” Harrington said. “My wife has worked with children with special needs as a speech-language pathologist since graduating from college, and we also have a family member with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The work we do is important to us, both personally and professionally.”
For Harrington, the most rewarding part of his job at LOGAN is the daily inspiration he draws from those around him.
“I am inspired in so many ways,” Harrington said. “I’m inspired by the individuals we serve and the things they do to live meaningful lives and reach their potential. I’m inspired by our staff, who treat everyone with dignity and respect, and bring so much compassion and kindness to their work. I’m inspired by our donors, who share their financial resources to support our mission, and by our volunteers, who give their time and energy to help with what we do.”
As president and CEO, Harrington sees his role as an opportunity to lead a team committed to making a larger impact.
“I feel like I’m leading a team that’s helping to change the world — not just for the people we serve and their families, but also by working to make our community a place where kindness and dignity enrich everyone’s lives,” Harrington said.
Outside of work, Harrington enjoys spending time with his wife, their three daughters, and their dog. He is also an avid athlete, having completed two Ironman races, has run the Boston Marathon twice, and competed in the 2017 USA Triathlon National Championships.
“Looking back now, it's cool to see how it all came full circle,” Harrington said. “With hopes, in college, of doing something to change the world, I now get the opportunity to do that through my work here at LOGAN.”