Meet the Board: Matt Evans

What does it mean to be part of a community? For Matt Evans, discovering the answer was a journey—one shaped by new cities, new experiences, and the people who left a lasting mark along the way.

Having moved to Marietta at the age of two, the city was more than a hometown…it was where he learned the value of roots, relationships, and community. After graduating from Marietta High School, Matt attended Miami University, earning a degree in finance with a minor in computer science. Like many young professionals, his early focus was on building a career, exploring opportunities, and experiencing the world around him.

Matt’s career first took him to Columbus, where he worked at a small bank before returning to school to earn his Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School. “I loved Columbus at that stage of life,” Evans said. “I was focused on my career and experiencing all the things the city had to offer.”

It was not until later—after professional growth and a move to Wooster, Ohio—that his perspective began to shift. “That’s where it really clicked,” he recalled. “A strong community is shaped by the people in the background who are moving it forward.”

That realization stayed with him when he returned to Marietta, encouraged by longtime friend, Mark Bradley. What had once simply been home became a place for intentional investment—of time, energy, and experience—and the ideal place to raise his family.

With more than 35 years in the financial services industry, Matt’s career has spanned banking, risk management, and trust services. Today, as Senior Vice President of Trust and Investment Services at Peoples Bank, he works closely with families on financial, retirement, and estate planning—helping them think not just about their future, but the legacy they want to leave behind.

Matt and his family: his wife, Susie, and their daughters, Sophie, Kate, and Lindsay.

That long-term perspective extends naturally to his community involvement. Over the years, Matt has served a number of local organizations, including nonprofit boards, the YMCA, and his church. He currently serves as President of the Hippodrome Colony Historic Theatre Association, Vice Chair of the Washington County Foster Families Foundation, and is a longtime member of the Marietta Noon Rotary Club.

Matt’s connection to Marietta Community Foundation is deeply rooted in family. “The Foundation has really been part of my family for a long time,” he said. “My dad was involved when it was first established in 1974. Later, my parents created a fund, and I’ve stayed connected through my work in trust and financial planning. More recently, my daughter Sophie even had the opportunity to intern there.”

Growing up surrounded by that example left a lasting impression. “Watching my parents give back shaped the way I see the community,” he said. “You don’t always realize it at the time, but it stays with you.”

Now serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors, Matt approaches the role the same way he approaches his work: steady, thoughtful, and focused on the long term. “When Eric Erb approached me about joining the board, it was a no-brainer,” he said. “The Foundation is such a valuable resource for our community, and I am fortunate to see that firsthand.”

What stands out most to Matt is how the Foundation works—often quietly, yet with lasting impact. “It is built to do good,” he said. “It gives people a way to make an impact that goes far beyond what you see today.”

For Matt, that’s what community comes down to: not just the place you live, but the role you choose to play in it—and the legacy you help build along the way.