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July 2021
Nominator's quote: "[Matt] is a career railroad construction leader with eight freight-, commuter- and light-rail transit construction projects on his resume. In the last 14 years, he has worked on a total of $2.3 billion worth of projects that have positively impacted the railroad industry." — Dustin McGrath, Archer Western Construction LLC
Education: University of Nevada, Reno, B.S. in mining engineering.
Job responsibilities: Currently the senior project manager of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Silver Line project in the north Dallas area. Responsibilities include overall leadership of the project and coordination with third-party stakeholders and city jurisdictions.
Career path: Professional career began with another construction company in Phoenix on the initial buildout of Valley Metro's light-rail system. From there, moved all over the country building light-, commuter- and heavy-rail projects from coast to coast. Moved to Texas in April 2016 with Archer Western to complete the TEXRail commuter line and currently on the DART Silver Line Design-Build Project.
How did you get into the railroad industry? I fell into the railroad industry. I started working for a large heavy civil contractor right out of college, where my first assignment was on a light-rail project. After that first project, all the rest of my projects have been in the rail industry. When I joined Archer Western in 2016, I was assigned to the Trinity Metro TEXRail project in Fort Worth, Texas.
What is the best career advice you've received? My dad taught me and continues to advise me that my word is the most important thing in business. If you say you are going to do something, do it. He has also advised me on how to have those difficult conversations we all need to have and has been a great sounding board over the years.
What advice would you give to a new railroader? As a new railroader, or any other new hire, you don't know what you don't know. This was said to me as a young engineer and I didn't understand what it meant for about a year after being told that. The premise is to just ask questions and to not be too proud to ask. We all started with limited field knowledge, while we thought that we were taught everything in school that we needed to know. Learn to take instruction from those that have been in the industry for years or decades. These people are the ones that truly know how to do this work and often that is what you don't learn in a classroom.
What was your very first job? My first job, apart from working at my grandparents' hardware store, was as a valet attendant in Reno, Nevada, for many of the casinos in the area.
Describe a fun fact about yourself: My wife and I, with our two kids, operate a small, 20-acre family farm in Joshua, Texas.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Of all the questions, this is probably the hardest one because I am not sure I have any spare time between work, a 20-acre farm and two nearly teenage children. So, in my spare time, my wife and I are probably driving all over Texas to take our kids to rabbit shows, 4-H shows and competitions, shooting competitions, hunting or fishing.
What is the rail industry's biggest challenge? The biggest challenge I see is the lack of the next generation entering the workforce in the "less glamorous" occupations. The industry needs to make a concerted effort to recruit and inform the next generation about the benefits of working in the rail and construction industries, from the trades to management, as they are very solid and long-lasting careers.
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