Matt Cassidy

Many of you may already be familiar with Matt Cassidy from his role as a village trustee. In speaking with Matt, it is clear he is passionate about Northbrook and ensuring the village continues to thrive economically and civically. While he mentions it in the interview below, take a few minutes to visit his blog (https://mattcassidyvotes.org/). He uses the site to cover topics considered by the village board and openly address how he voted and why—making it a tremendous resource for interested residents.

How long have you lived in Northbrook, and what originally brought you to the community?

My wife and I moved into our home in early 2011 with our young daughter. We had outgrown our apartment in the city, and with one kid already and plans for a second, we looked for just the right suburb and found it in Northbrook. Excellent schools, safe community, easy access to the train, not too far from the city, and a lovely neighborhood sold us!

Tell us a bit about your life — what do you do for work, and what keeps you busy during the week?

I have been working for the last 25+ years in financial technology. I've held a bunch of different roles in that field, from front line to managerial and executive, on the technical and business sides, and currently work as a business developer for an investment bank downtown. What more people in Northbrook probably know me for though, is that I am a Trustee on the Village Board (elected in 2025), which can keep me quite busy. I've coached a bunch of youth sports teams and volunteered with various organizations. And then of course there is raising two teenagers, which is the most fulfilling part of my days.

What does your family love to do for fun around town, or how do you prefer to spend a free weekend in the area?

What is this "free weekend" thing of which you speak? Seriously though, with two kids currently at Glenbrook North, we do a lot associated with their extracurriculars. When they were younger we liked to try out different playgrounds around town (Village Green remained their favorite), and of course there were all the sports. Nowadays when we get the rare chance to all be together, we like to go out to some of the restaurants in town, catch a movie at Northbrook Court, or go to one of the events in Village Green like Art in the Park.

Why is Northbrook important to you, and what is your favorite thing about living in this community?

Northbrook has become our home. It was the schools and safety and access to transit and resources that enticed us, but what has really made it feel like home is the people and our neighborhood. So many welcoming, kind, smart people who care about their community.

If someone were moving to Northbrook tomorrow, what is the first piece of advice or local recommendation you would give them?

There are a lot of great activities and events here. Once you get settled in, look at what the village, the Park District, and Library are offering. They each have so many ways to have fun and connect with others. Block parties are a great way too, if your neighborhood has them. And the multiple faith communities in town. There is no lack of ways to find new friends here and that is the best way to feel connected.

Lightning Round

Where is your go-to local spot for a meeting or a great cup of coffee?

Leonida's is great for a chat over coffee or snacks. For lunch there are so many places, but I often go with Claim Company or Lazy Dog.

What do you consider the best “hidden gem” in town?

Not sure it is really hidden, but I feel like not enough people know about Cabo, a relatively new Mexican restaurant on Dundee. Highly recommended!

If you had to describe Northbrook in exactly three words, what would they be?

Safe and welcoming.

Anything else you’d like to add?

As a Trustee, one of the things I have tried to do is be as communicative as possible. I have talked with so many residents and business leaders about what they want to see in Northbrook. I reply to every email and letter sent to the board no matter the topic, and every public comment submitted that asks any kind of question. I have a blog, where I write an entry after every meeting of the Village Board, wherein I explain what we covered, highlight important information, and explain why I voted the way I did on every item of consequence. I want our local governing body to be as transparent and connected as possible. You can visit, read, and subscribe to the blog: mattcassidyvotes.org. Or you can send me an email via my Trustee email account, which is published on the village website, if you have questions.