Biography
Prior to joining VOX, he served as Director of Communications for Senator Gordon H. Smith, then a leading member of key Senate committees including Energy and Natural Resources; Commerce, Science, Transportation; and Finance. As Senator Smith’s chief spokesman and media strategist, Matthews developed a knack for translating complex policy issues into compelling messages that won support among the general public and within Congress.
Matthews also served as Communications Director and Press Secretary for the House Agriculture Committee and its chairmen, Robert F. Smith (Oregon) and Larry Combest (Texas). At the Committee, he provided strategic communications insight to shape public policies as varied as international trade, food regulation, and derivatives laws.
Matthews got his political start as Press Secretary and Legislative Assistant for U.S. Representative Wes Cooley during the historic 104th Congress. He was responsible for generating media coverage, writing speeches, issuing news releases, writing opinion editorials and drafting public statements. There, he developed and implemented press strategies that strengthened public support for Rep. Cooley’s legislative endeavors while building and maintaining long-term, positive relationships with members of the media.
Matthews began his career as a Lobbying Assistant for Bergner, Bockorny, Clough, and Brain where he supported government relations efforts on behalf of Fortune 500 clients in diverse industries including telecommunications, health care and entertainment. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Government & Foreign Affairs.
An avid cook and grower, Matthews bottles his own Tabasco sauce, uses pesticides freely, and has way too many zucchini. He maintains a 1.8 slugging percentage as center fielder for the VOX softball team and is openly campaigning to rename the squad “Gary Busey” in time for the 2011 season.