Matthew made Knoxville and East Tennessee his home in 2011. He is a PechaKucha Knoxville curator and founder of the Square on the Square, square dances. He is also an activist with the American Institute of Architects. He currently serves as Board Chair of the Knoxville Downtown Alliance, as well as a Board Member for the Knoxville Chamber, the Design Review Board, and Two Bikes. Matthew has a BA in Asian Studies and a Masters in Divinity (MDiv). Before landing in Knoxville Matthew lived in Miami, Alabama, Seattle, Chicago, and Nashville, as well as six years in Shanghai, China.