Matthew S. Bennett

Board Member

Matthew S. Bennett is a healthcare innovator, trauma-informed systems builder, and executive leader focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable and underserved communities. He is President of Optimal Innovation Group and Co-CEO of Optimal, LLC, where he helps organizations operationalize whole-person care through practical training, leadership development, and evidence-informed approaches to resilience and recovery.

Matthew holds an MBA in Healthcare from the University of Colorado Denver and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology & Executive Development with an emphasis in nonprofit leadership. Over the past two decades, he has led and advised cross-sector teams spanning behavioral health, housing-adjacent services, workforce training, and quality improvement. His earlier roles include Community Based Program Director/Quality Assurance Director at Denver Children’s Home and Assistant Director/School Administrator at Laradon Hall Children’s Services.

A prolific author and educator, Matthew has published multiple books on trauma-informed care, neurobiology, and heart rate variability (HRV), and he hosts podcasts dedicated to advancing trauma-informed practice and applied HRV. He brings a governance-ready blend of mission alignment, systems thinking, training expertise, and strategic execution to help scale equitable, accessible care delivery.