Moorestown resident Matt Skic has been selected as one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s 40-Under-40 2025 honorees, a feat that recognizes some of the region’s up-and-coming leaders in the publication.
“This is an honor that recognizes young leaders in the city that are involved in innovative projects or business initiatives, or who are making an impact in their work and through their work,” Skic said.
This year’s class – according to the Philadelphia Business Journal’s website – was selected from a pool of nearly 400 nominations. The nominees span a range of industries including health care, finance and retail. Skic is the director of collections and exhibitions for the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
“It makes me feel really good and confident that a lot of people are recognizing the work that I’m doing, and that makes me feel proud about that work,” Skic noted of his nomination. “It’s an honor that I’m on the same list as people who are making really great achievements in various fields, from business and finance to medicine …
“I’m really pleased that I’m coming from the arts and culture scene here in Philadelphia, and to represent that sector among the award class.”
As the museum’s director of collections and exhibitions, Skic is responsible for overseeing the team that cares for collections of historical artifacts; artwork; and documents, among other items. He oversees the development and creation of all museum’s exhibits, which are developed in-house.
A lot of Skic’s work on a daily basis includes writing, connecting with other museums – to borrow artifacts for an exhibition, engage in research or develop a relationship with the facilities – and adding to or growing a collection for the museum.
“It’s a lot of fun and I get to meet a lot of amazing people,” Skic said, “and I get to work with an amazing team, and I’m so thankful for what I do. Sometimes you have to pinch yourself that you get to do this work and it’s not just a dream, but it’s reality. I have long wanted to work in a museum ever since I was a child, and the fact that I get to work in a museum every day is really a dream come true.”
Skic previously served as the curator of the American Revolution museum, having set his sights on that career path beginning in middle school, when he wrote an essay about what he wanted to do when he grew up: become a museum curator. From then on he learned more about what the role entailed, studying history at American University in Washington, D.C., interning at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and participating in a fellowship program at the University of Delaware.
Now he’s excited for all that the museum has planned.
“Nothing beats the opening moments of an exhibition, when you see people first enter and they start asking questions or they’re inspired,” Skic maintained. “That is what gives me so much energy to continue to do what I do. People have that spark of learning and discovery, and if the exhibits that I curate and work on can spark that sense of discovery, then I know that I’m doing my job right.”
