BioMatt was born and raised in Dublin. He is an Eagle Scout from Troop 68 and was an honor graduate
of Dublin High School. He graduated from Presbyterian College with a BS Degree in Applied
Mathematics with an Economic Emphasis.
Matt started with Delta Air Lines, Inc. in June of 1988 as a Methods Analyst. He served later in the
Stockholder Relations and Corporate Contributions department at Delta. He completed his career
with Delta serving as a Procedures Planning Analyst in the Technical Operations Division. After
working with Delta Air Lines, Inc. for six years in Atlanta, he returned home to start a family with
his wife Kim.
After returning home to Dublin, he started Hangers Cleaners, Inc., a local dry cleaning
Establishment and operated it until 2010. He and his wife purchased Plum Alley, a ladies clothing
store in 1997, which she presently operates. He also owned the local Bruster's Real Ice Cream and
Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs franchise from 2001 until 2015. Matt presently works as a Director of
Development for Mercer University.
He is a member of the Dublin Rotary Club and has served on the board of the Dublin/Laurens
County Chamber of Commerce and as the Chairman of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Laurens
County as well as the Heart of Georgia United Way. He is presently a member of the board of
Communities in Schools of Laurens County.
Matt served as a Dublin City Councilman from 1999-2009 where he served on the Finance,
Economic Development Committees and the Downtown Development Authority and served as the
Mayor Pro Tem in 2007. He represented Dublin and Laurens County as a member of the Leadership
Georgia Class of 2000.
Matt served as Chairman of the Dublin/Laurens County's month long St. Patrick's Festival in 2002,
having previously volunteered as Vice Chairman and President of the Order of Shillelagh. He
presently assists with the St. Patrick's Festival's hot air balloon festival which brings hot air
balloonists to Laurens County during the festival, having organized the event for several years.
Matt has served as the Chairman of the Theatre Dublin Nutcracker since its inception in 2004. The
performance brings professional ballet dancers and mixes them with 100+ local dancers for three
performances of the Nutcracker the first weekend of December at Theatre Dublin.
Matt serves on the Advisory Board of the Citizens Bank of Laurens County.
Matt was elected to the 150 House District in November 2010. He serves on the House
Appropriations General Government subcommittee; Economic Development & Tourism committee;
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications committee; Ethics committee; Health & Human Services
committee; and the Rules committee. Matt served as one of Governor Deal's Floor Leaders from
June 2011 until September 2013 when he was elected by his peers to serve as the Chairman of the
House Majority Caucus.
Matt and his family are members of First United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Kim have two beautiful daughters, Emily and Camille.
|