Matt Fritz

Experience

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  Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

  Jan 1995 - Feb 2008

  As the Department’s first Chief of Staff, I managed the day-to-day operations of an agency with more than 1,000 employees. Specific responsibilities and duties included:Led the implementation of the Department’s No Child Left Inside® Initiative – a statewide, regional and national effort to connect families, especially children, with the outdoors;Managed the development of the agency’s annual budget – operating and capital;Participated in high-level human resources actions and negotiations;Created Connecticut’s Safe Swimming Task Force in 2006 to address water safety issues and concerns across the state; Supervised the work of the following units within the Office of the Chief of Staff:Environmental Education, Legislative Affairs, Environmental Justice, Communications and Indian Affairs;Worked with the Commissioner to develop and implement environmental and natural resource protection policies for Connecticut;Managed two Environmental Education facilities;Coordinated the development of legislative proposals for the Department; andOversaw hiring, disciplinary actions, evaluations and training for the Office of the Commissioner. Show less Managed a staff of 16 professionals. Responsibilities included developing an office budget and handling all personnel matters, furthering staff development, enhancing environmental education programs, and overseeing the agency’s website;Served as the agency’s spokesperson;Managed relationships with Connecticut’s media outlets;Oversaw the preparation of communications and media materials: press releases, opinion pieces, speeches and fact sheets;Coordinated the state’s mosquito management program; Coordinated external affairs for the agency. Responsibilities included working with the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners to develop strategic planning priorities, working with managers and line staff to develop resource protection policies and legislation, and coordinating media affairs. Oversaw agency outreach activities and coordinated briefings for the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners; andDeveloped agency resource protection policies and programs including the state’s beach testing and mosquito surveillance programs. Show less

  • Chief of Staff

    Jan 2005 - Feb 2008

  • Director of Communications and Education

    Jan 2003 - Jan 2005

  • Director of Communications

    Jan 2001 - Jan 2003

  • Environmental Analyst 1, 2 and 3

    Jan 1996 - Jan 2001

  • Communications Officer

    Jan 1995 - Jan 1996
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  Office of the Governor - State of Connecticut

  Feb 2008 - Jan 2011

  Special Assistant to the Governor

  Note: My time in this office overlapped with my return to Connecticut DEEP.I served as a Special Assistant to Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell. Connecticut American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) State Lead:Oversaw Connecticut’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. o Oversaw the receipt and expenditure of more than $3 billion in Recovery Act funding;o Coordinated the activities of more than 30 state agencies;o Coordinated Connecticut’s activities with federal agencies;o Established policies for transparency and accountability; ando Created standards and procedures for Recovery Act reporting – to both the Governor’s office and the federal Office of Management and Budget.New England Governors’ Conference Commission on Conservation In 2008, the New England Governors established a blue-ribbon commission to assess land conservation efforts throughout the region and provide recommendations to advance regional landscape conservation initiatives. I served as Connecticut’s representative. o Chaired the Commission’s Connect People to the Outdoors subcommittee;o Engaged stakeholders and constituent groups in the identification and prioritization of conservation initiatives; o Developed broad conservation strategies and initiatives as part of the larger, regional effort; ando Coordinated the development of strategic regional reports outlining collaborative projects along key resource corridors.Liaison: Served as a liaison between the Office of the Governor and state agencies on programmatic and policy matters; coordinated functions amongst the different units within the Governor’s Office including External Affairs, Legislative and Media Relations; and Strategic Initiative Coordinator: Worked with units within the Governor’s office and state agencies to explore and implement statewide initiatives to foster greater efficiency in state government and address budgetary matters. Show less

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  Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

  Apr 2010 - May 2013

  Bureau Chief - Outdoor Recreation

  Managed a bureau with more than 160 employees including Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Park Supervisors, Environmental Analysts, Maintainers and Environmental Educators. The bureau is responsible for overseeing the operations of more than 100 state parks, 14 campgrounds, dozens of historic sites and more than 100 boat launches. On an annual basis, more than 8 million people visit Connecticut state parks.Oversaw strategic planning, budgetary and human resource aspects for the State Parks, Environmental Conservation Police and Boating Divisions, including oversight over various funding and grant programs such as Recreational Trails, Recreational Boating, Joint Enforcement Act and Land and Water Conservation Fund;Managed an annual $26 million budget;Managed all human resources and personnel matters for a bureau;Spearheaded a cross-agency planning process to prioritize infrastructure investments and maintenance of the agency’s more than 200 facilities, structures and buildings; Developed legislative proposals and environmental conservation regulations;Developed and implemented statewide and park system-wide initiatives – 100th anniversary of Connecticut state parks, Green Parks program and 9-11 Living Memorial activities;Implemented LEAN initiatives to streamline operations throughout the Bureau – creating efficiencies and improving overall effectiveness; andOversaw the design and construction of infrastructure projects throughout the agency’s outdoor recreation footprint including state parks and boat launches. Show less

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  US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  May 2013 - Jan 2017

  EPA is an agency of 15,000 employees with an annual budget of $8 billion. The agency and its national program offices (air, waste, chemicals, water, science and research, and enforcement) are located headquartered in Washington, DC and there are 10 regional offices located throughout the country. Serve as the chief advisor to the EPA Administrator and Deputy Administrator;Oversee the day-to-day operations of the entire agency;Oversee human resources and personnel matters in the Office of the Administrator and throughout the agency;Manage the strategic planning and priority setting process;Coordinate and serve as the primary liaison with the White House and other federal agencies;Participate in the development of the agency’s budget and prioritization process;Develop and implement internal policies governing the work of the agency and improving overall operations;Manage crisis and emergency situations;Coordinate the work of the agency’s external affairs teams: communications, outreach, and Congressional and intergovernmental affairs;Manage the agency’s transition process; andServe as the Administrator’s advisor on matters of national security. Show less Managed the development, coordination and implementation of major policy initiatives - worked with technical and legal experts throughout the course of policy development process;Oversaw the day-to-day operations for the Office of the Administrator. Coordinated budgetary functions, communications, security and policy development between EPA’s headquarters offices and regional offices;Managed the drafting, coordination, outreach and overall process associated with the various rules, policies and guidance documents; Developed the agency’s strategic priorities and deliverables; andOversaw EPA’s development of materials – determinations and court filings – associated with the Bristol Bay Watershed 404c review. Show less

  • Chief of Staff

    Jun 2015 - Jan 2017

  • Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Policy

    Oct 2014 - May 2015

  • Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations

    May 2013 - Oct 2014
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  Latham & Watkins

  Jun 2017 - now

  Director of Administration - Washington, DC Office