Matt Priest is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), the largest and most effective footwear association in the United States. In this role, Mr. Priest serves as the executive in charge of FDRA’s day-to-day operations ensuring the association meets and exceeds its goal to be the footwear industry’s business and trade association. He also oversees the operations of the vitally important Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY), directing four interactive footwear markets in New York throughout the year.

Before joining FDRA in February 2009, Mr. Priest served as Senior Advisor to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel at the U.S. Department of Commerce. As Deputy Assistant Secretary, he oversaw programs and strategies to improve the domestic and international competitiveness of the U.S. footwear, fiber, textiles and apparel industries.