Most recently, Matt was the Chief Services Officer at Crisis Text Line, an innovative non-profit organization that provides international crisis and mental health support through texting and web chat. Matt is deeply passionate about destigmatizing mental health and crisis support and rethinking traditional approaches to providing crisis assistance to victims, families, and loved ones. While at Crisis Text Line, Matt created a Volunteer Experience department, which featured teams that provided diverse support, including wellness support, for over 50,000 trained volunteer crisis counselors. Before his role at Crisis Text Line, Matt spent over 25 years in Public Safety, including nearly 20 years at Tucson Police Department, where he held the rank of Sergeant and worked several key assignments, including the Office of the Chief of Police. Matt worked on President Obama’s 21st Century Police Task Force Initiative, focusing on improving police accountability, community engagement, and data and technology innovation.

While in Tucson, AZ, Matt led the successful implementation of several wide-reaching customer service programs for Tucson metropolitan community members, including support and engagement for businesses, varied modes of transport, and alternative accident collision assistance. His approach uses a data-informed, customer-first feedback loop to combine information and technology to elevate customer empowerment and stakeholder engagement. Nationally, Matt consulted on the design and implementation of Compstat 2.0, a data-informed public service decision model. He also contributed to improving public safety data across several states, elevating record consistency and accuracy to help lift ethical practices. Matt created a collaborative community event that brought together various stakeholders to discuss data findings and make informed recommendations for public policy and public safety response.

Matt worked with former US Chief Data Scientist DJ Patil and current US Chief Data Scientist Denice Ross on open data initiatives during President Obama’s Administration. Matt’s area of focus included discovering how opening public safety data could inform decision-making and rethink traditional public service. Matt has written training programs and has been a national instructor in various areas of Leadership, including Organizational Leadership, Ethics, and Progressive Leadership Principles. Matt is a Fellow of the National Policing Institute and is a recognized DOJ Subject Matter Expert for providing federal criminal justice training and research.

Also, Matt has been a musician since childhood. During high school, Matt was twice named the Arizona all-state jazz band drummer. As a freshman at the University of Arizona, he played drums with the coveted “A” jazz combo, which consisted of graduate students and staff. While in Tucson, Matt has played in several successful bands and recordings, performed hundreds of live shows, and was hired to play drums for showcase performances in the Los Angeles area. Matt believes that “music is the universal language,” as it transcends culture, race, gender, and language differences. Matt’s highlight of performing live music has always been the undefined power of musical energy to uplift people through its connection and emotion.

Matt holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies-Public Administration. He holds Foundations of Public Sector Leadership and Executive Southwest Leadership certificates through the University of Arizona Eller Executive Education and College of Management. Matt also has belts in all Six Sigma levels and Agile Project Management Fundamentals certification. Along with some of his colleagues in the Seattle area, Matt is a mentor for a new program focused on providing professional and life guidance to 11 to18-year-old Black young men who also reside in the Greater Seattle metro area.