A native of Crystal Springs, MS, Matt arrived in Asheville in November 2007. He and his wife, Casey, have one child, Eydi, who was born in 2007.  In his spare time, Matt enjoys anything outdoors -- including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and farming -- as well as carpentry and spending time with his family. Prior to becoming an attorney, Matt's diverse work experience included working as a school teacher, a cabinet installer, a ranch hand and a warehouse manager for a highway construction company.

Favorite Foods:

Boiled crawfish, fried catfish and turnip greens, Southern soul food

Last Place Visited:

Bozeman, Montana. Also loves to explore North Carolina, and would love to go to Italy, Japan and Alaska.

Favorite Music: 

Mississippi Delta Blues, bluegrass, old country, gospel, jazz piano

Favorite Books: 

Anything by John Steinbeck, "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand

Guilty Pleasures: 

Solitude on a quiet mountain stream, chocolate, his wife's cookies

Community Involvement

• Served as a mentor for 8th- and 9th-graders at a local junior high school
• Camp Rainbow (summer camp for children with cancer)
• 10 years as volunteer counselor and steering/planning committee member