A graduate from the California State University, Sacramento, Matt’s formal education is in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Public Relations and Mass Media.  Matt has also completed extensive studies in Organic Chemistry, Nuclear Physics, and Political Science.

In the November, 2010, General Election, Sacramento area voters elected Matt as City Councilman for the newly proposed City of Arden Arcade.  While the formation of the city ultimately failed, and thus the City Council was not needed, Matt continues to be an active member in his community on issues affecting small businesses and improving Sacramento's economy viability.

Matt's political adventure began when he joined the office of State Assemblyman John Vasconcellos in March, 1993.  He stayed with the Assemblyman and transitioned into the Senate in 1996, where he advanced through successive staff positions of leadership to become Deputy Chief of Staff.  In this expansive role, Matt represented the Senator on presenting legislation to policy committees, as a member on various boards, and by staffing legislation and influencing policies affecting the state’s energy, public safety, education, transportation, environment, agriculture, and water climates.

In 2004 Matt left the Legislature to become a lobbyist for Capital Alliance, an advocacy and government strategies public relations firm representing a consortium of business interests.  Matt's growing clientele list features business interests whose focus is renewable energy, public safety, medicine, transportation, manufacturing, water, technology, education, constitutional law, and communications.

Matt is often called upon by the media for interviews on public safety matters, and in the stories juxtaposed with the Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, and Senate Pro Tempore.  He has also been a repeat guest on POWER 106 in Burbank; the Bruce Maiman show, Talk 1530 AM, KFBK in Sacramento; and The John & Ken Show, 640 AM in Burbank.