Matt Downs

Matt Downs is the Director at Somatus. Prior to Somatus, Matt was the Marketing Director at Junior Library Guild from March 2019 to August 2021. In their role at Junior Library Guild, Matt was responsible for planning and implementing marketing and communication strategy directed at school and public librarians and promoting JLG’s subscription service which delivers hand-curated preK-YA literature in a variety of genre/reading-level categories.

During their time at Junior Library Guild, Matt successfully developed widespread brand affinity during COVID school closures by standing up free, online resources including access to JLG’s digital reading platform, author-talk webcasts, and multimedia curricula. When schools resumed, they led the effort to convert users of our free digital-reading platform to paying subscribers and helped the sales team reach 300% of its new-business goal for the product line.

Additionally, Matt launched and hosted a serial webcast with author Rex Ogle, who wrote and read their original middle-grade novel Aiden Tyler, Quaran-teen in real time over a series of 13 weeks for home-bound students, teachers, librarians, and families during COVID shut-downs.

Matt Downs received a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature, General from New Mexico State University. Matt also completed a Leading & Managing in Turbulent Times: Global Leadership Certificate Program from Thunderbird School of Global Management. In addition, they have also completed a Professional Development Program from the Graduate Management Admissions Council.