Matthew Tate

Matthew Tate is the Executive Vice President of Capital Rivers Connect, specializing in site selection, economic development strategy, client relations, and public speaking.

Matthew began his career on the retail side, working directly with both established and emerging brands seeking to expand their footprint nationwide. Through customer analytics and market evaluation, he helped retailers take a smarter, more strategic approach to site selection. A few years into his career, however, he was given the opportunity to reverse engineer that process by working with cities to understand which retail brands were missing from their markets and how thoughtful attraction strategies could increase sales tax revenue and enhance quality of life. Throughout his career, Matthew has worked on both sides of the table, advising retailers making location decisions and communities working to attract them. As a result, he brings a rare dual perspective that allows him to clearly explain how retail decisions are truly made, where communities can meaningfully influence outcomes, and where decisions are driven by factors beyond their control. He is known for his ability to build stakeholder buy-in through clear storytelling, direct communication, and transparent guidance that remains grounded in reality, even when it challenges expectations.

Outside of work, Matthew is deeply involved in both professional organizations and youth development. He is active in ICSC and the ICSC Next Gen Leadership Network, along with TeamCalifornia, the California Association for Local Economic Development, and the Association of Washington Cities. In addition, he founded and runs Nails Baseball Club, a nonprofit youth baseball program serving 45 players ages 7 to 12. Matthew lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife and children. In his free time, he enjoys watching Giants baseball, listening to country music, and spending time with his family. He also runs a YouTube channel with his 11-year-old son, where they break down game highlights in a SportsCenter-style format.

Education

• B.A. in Liberal Arts, Focus in Communications, Harding University

Affiliations

• International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
• ICSC Next Gen Leadership Network
• TeamCalifornia
• California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED)
• Association of Washington Cities (AWC)