Profile

Matt Herlevic was appointed to the Arkansas Research and Development Commission (ARDC) Division of Rural Services in the summer of 2025. He brings more than 27 years of executive leadership experience with Walmart and Sam’s Club, where he held key roles spanning audit, marketing, and strategic operations. Now entering a new chapter as an entrepreneur, Matt offers a rare blend of strategic vision, retail acumen, and personal integrity—making him a trusted leader, advisor, and advocate for meaningful change.

A graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a B.S. in Accounting, Matt continues to support his alma mater through service on the Advisory Board for Accounting. He is also a passionate advocate for aortic health awareness through the John Ritter Foundation, reflecting his commitment to causes with lasting impact.

Matt has called Arkansas home since 1993 and is deeply invested in the state’s economic and community vitality. He and his wife of 27 years, Sara (Alma, AR), are active members of their Catholic parish in Bentonville. They have two sons: Nicholas, a University of Alabama graduate working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and Zachary, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas.