Matthew Godinez serves as the Assistant Secretary of Quality Places for the Kansas Department of Commerce. He is responsible for providing oversight, management and direction to sub-divisions that include Kansas Main Street, Community Development Block Grants, The Office of Rural Prosperity, The Office of Broadband Development, and Quality Places Specialists. His work entails setting the strategy for the Quality Places Division (QPD), driving internal administrative improvements related to agency operations and ensuring Quality Places programs are aligned with the Kansas Framework for Growth. 

Matt previously served as the Executive Director of the Chanute Regional Development Authority and the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission. Matt has been named one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America, Top 40 under 40 in Economic Development and Leadership Kansas Class of 2019. In 2022, Matt received his Master Economic Development Practitioner designation from the University of Southern Mississippi, and in 2024, Matt graduated from the Certified Public Management program and the Advanced Economic Development Leadership program.