East Montgomery County Improvement District Promotes Mattlage to Chief Operating Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
East Montgomery County Improvement District Promotes
Mattlage to Chief Operating Officer
(December 8, 2025) – The East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID), a
political subdivision of the State of Texas responsible for economic development in the
eastern half of Montgomery County, Texas, is pleased to announce the promotion of
Kelley Barr Mattlage to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective January
1, 2026.
This strategic decision reflects the company's commitment to recognizing and elevating
exceptional talent from within, particularly those who demonstrate a deep understanding
of the company's operations and strategic vision. In her new role as COO, Mattlage will
be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of
the organization, ensuring internal efficiency and alignment with EMCID’s growth
objectives.
Mattlage, who joined EMCID in 2014 and currently serves as Chief Communications
Officer, will maintain her role in overall marketing and public relations strategies and will
add human resources and event and office management to her duties, as well as serve
as liaison to the District’s 210,070-square-foot convention center, set to open in late 2026.
Kelley brings a unique perspective to the role of COO, having successfully implemented
branding and marketing campaigns that strengthened relations with the community and
created a global attraction for businesses who wanted to expand. During her tenure, she
introduced The Insider, a district newsletter, to more than 50,000 households in East
Montgomery County, increased EMCID’s social media followers by more than 1,000%,
and spearheaded EMCID’s largest and most successful A Holiday to Remember ice
skating event in 2020, which saw 34,911 attendees. Outside of communications, she
engaged in the recruitment of numerous domestic and international companies to
EMCID’s industrial park and worked in conjunction with the architects of the convention
center to provide the best user experience for future visitors.
"Promoting Kelley to Chief Operating Officer was a natural decision, rooted in her
expertise, dedication, and deep understanding of the intricacies of our unique
organization, needs of the community, and strategic vision," said Frank McCrady,
President and CEO. "The Board of Directors and I value her judgment and business
acumen. She has a common-sense approach, and I have often looked to her to oversee
tough jobs or provide her perspective on issues. Her proven leadership over the last 11-
plus years has prepared her to take on the broader operational responsibilities that are
critical for our next phase of growth."
"I am truly excited about opportunities this role provides, and I’m well-equipped to manage
the challenges that come along with it," said Mattlage. I look forward to working with our
talented team to optimize our processes and more efficiently realize our goals, putting
forth a company image employees can get behind and the community can support. These
are exciting times for EMCID, and I am honored to help lead the organization into the
future.”
About the East Montgomery County Improvement District:
www.emctx.com
The East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) is a political subdivision of
the State of Texas responsible for developing and encouraging economic and community
development within its 158-square mile boundaries, about 25 minutes northeast of
downtown Houston. Wanting something better for the area in terms of jobs and amenities,
community members in 1997 encouraged state legislation and voters approved creation
of the district as a taxing authority (sales tax) within its boundaries in the eastern area of
Montgomery County. Led by a board of eight elected individuals, EMCID strategically
looks at opportunities in retail, commercial and industrial development and how they
complement each other.
About Kelley Barr Mattlage:
Kelley brings nearly 30 years of proven leadership in media, public relations, and
marketing. Before joining EMCID, she served as Director of Communications &
Community Relations at New Caney ISD, Executive Director of the New Caney ISD
Education Foundation, and Director of Communications at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.
An Emmy Award-winning television journalist, Kelley was recognized for her work as an
evening news anchor at KCEN-TV, the NBC affiliate in Waco, and also served as
Promotions & Marketing Manager for KWTX-TV, the CBS affiliate in Waco.
Kelley holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications from Washington State
University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Radio/Television/Film from Sam Houston State
University. She is a certified Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED)
and a member of the Southern Economic Development Council and Society for Human
Resource Management.
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