R. Matt Davis

R. Matt Davis is the President of Driftwood Leadership, a firm dedicated to helping organizations and individuals grow through leadership strategy and inspirational training. With a career spanning more than three decades, Matt brings deep experience in communications, public affairs, and executive leadership.

Before launching Driftwood Leadership, Matt spent 32 years at Dow, where he held a variety of leadership roles and ultimately served as President of Dow North America and Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs. As a member of Dow’s Executive Leadership Committee, he helped shape the company’s strategic direction and became the first leader with a communications and public affairs background to be named President of a Dow region, a defining milestone in his career.

In addition to his role at Driftwood Leadership, Matt serves on the Board of Directors for Altria Group, Inc. and as a Board Member for Lake State Railway Company. His expertise spans leadership development, corporate communications, government relations, and building strong public trust and reputation for organizations.

A proud Spartan, Matt earned his B.S. in Journalism with a focus on Public Affairs from Michigan State University in 1986. He credits his ComArtSci education as the foundation of his career and remains committed to ensuring today’s students have the same opportunities that shaped his path. He actively encourages alumni to stay connected and give back to support the next generation.

Matt’s professional accomplishments have been widely recognized. He was named to PRWeek’s Power 50 list and the Communications 50, received the Outstanding ComArtSci Alumni Award, and was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. He is also an accredited public relations professional and has held leadership roles within the Public Relations Society of America.

Outside of his professional work, Matt is the author of the novel Identity Renewal and is passionate about mental and physical wellness. He is a dog-lover, while also enjoying bodybuilding and hiking.