Matt Headley

Experience

Market Manager — City of Anniston

2025 – Present · Anniston, AL

Manages the Anniston Downtown Farmers Market
Vendor recruitment, day-of operations, staff and intern coordination
Developed Healthy Bucks shopper credit program for SNAP/EBT match
Built and deployed MarketDay, a custom market management SaaS

Founder & Operator — Headley Ventures (The Aisle LLC)

2023 – Present · Anniston, AL

Gather Studio — umbrella services brand: message coaching, web design, performance coaching, AI media enhancement
The Aisle — Alabama bridal show and vendor expo; first event October 18, 2026, Anniston Museums & Gardens
Southern Legends — long-form narrative profiles of undersung Alabamians (southernlegends.blog)
Plainspoken Blueprint — messaging clarity framework for leaders and organizations
MarketDay — farmers market management SaaS; in production at the Anniston Downtown Farmers Market
Tend — marriage curriculum and AI-assisted coaching for couples
Petal Studio — SaaS platform for wedding florists
SermonCoach — AI-assisted sermon preparation for pastors

Pastor — Multiple congregations, Indiana and Alabama

2004 – 2023 · Muncie, IN / Calhoun County, AL

Nineteen years in pastoral ministry across four congregations
Preaching, counseling, community organizing, conflict mediation
Urban ministry focus in Muncie, Indiana before returning to Alabama
Progressive evangelical theology; trained in the Franciscan contemplative tradition

Flower Farmer — Headley Flower Farm

2020 – 2023 · Anniston, AL

Cut flower production for CSA, farmers market, and wedding clients
Co-managed with Heather Headley

Performance & Music

Bass-Baritone Vocalist & Performer

2000 – Present

Voice type: bass-baritone, range C2–G5 (confirmed 2026)
26 years worship music leadership and choral direction across multiple congregations
Show Choir — Jacksonville State University, 2005–2009 (performance and choreography)
Sweeney Todd (title role) — Theatre of Gadsden, 2009
Pirate King, Pirates of Penzance — Jacksonville State University
Auditioning for regional/national productions, competitions, and opera company outreach (2026–)

Voice & Performance Coach — Gather Studio

2026 – Present

Singing and voice instruction
Audition coaching (theater, film, commercial)
Acting coaching and scene study
Public speaking and interview coaching
Preaching and sermon delivery coaching

Education

Master of Divinity — Northern Seminary, Lombard, IL

2004

Theology and urban ministry. Lombard and Lawndale campuses.

B.A., Music (Minor: Drama & Theatre) — Jacksonville State University

2000

Opera, oratorio, musical theater. Show Choir (2005–2009). Lead roles: Sweeney Todd (title role), Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance).

Writing & Publications

Southern Legends

Long-form profiles of undersung Alabamians — farmers, preachers, artists, teachers. Published on southernlegends.org.

Plainspoken Blueprint

A framework for leaders who know their work but can’t say it. Eight movements. Built from twelve years of pastoral practice.

The Pulpit Truth

Religious commentary and theological writing for a non-seminary audience.

Speaking

AI and ministry — how language models are changing pastoral work
Messaging clarity for founders and leaders
Community building in the rural South
Faith, doubt, and the progressive church

Available for church gatherings, denominational conferences, civic events, and business audiences. Full speaking page: matthewheadley.com/speaking

Skills

Software TypeScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, Drizzle ORM, Turso (libsql), Clerk, Vercel, Resend, Stripe

Writing Long-form narrative journalism, theological writing, product copy, voice coaching

Leadership Community organizing, pastoral care, conflict mediation, event management

Voice Bass-baritone (C2–G5) · opera, oratorio, musical theater, worship direction · 26 years choral leadership · Show Choir choreography

Coaching Voice instruction, audition coaching, acting coaching, public speaking, interview prep, preaching delivery

Based in Anniston, Alabama. Twenty-six years in Calhoun County. Available for remote and regional in-person work.
matthewheadley.com · matt@matthewheadley.com · (256) 644-7334