Matt Markins

Matt Markins serves as the President and COO of Awana, a global leader in Child Discipleship. Prior to joining the Awana executive leadership team, Matt served in leadership roles with Randall House Publishers, Thomas Nelson Publishers and was the co-founder of the D6 Conference (a discipleship and family ministry community).

Matt’s ministry as a nonprofit executive leader has been marked by leading and influencing change from within by analyzing data to define organizational realities, casting vision that brings hope and galvanizes teams, building and implementing strategic plans, achieving results that strengthen the mission and the customer/donor, forging strategic partnerships and nurturing a healthier culture.

He enjoys public speaking, carpentry, reading, gardening, home renovation/building, being active outside and traveling with the family. Matt and his wife Katie have been volunteering and growing in children’s ministry for more than 20 years. As Nashville transplants, they live and play in the Chicago suburbs with their two sons tolerating dreadful winters, but soaking up refreshingly mild weather the other seven months of the year.