Matt helps organizations build technology that's secure, sustainable, and thoughtfully designed.
Technology Built for Real Organizations
Matt enjoys solving practical technology problems.
Whether he's designing Microsoft 365 architecture, strengthening cybersecurity, evaluating platforms, or automating repetitive work, his focus is always the same: helping organizations build systems that are reliable, understandable, and sustainable.
He's particularly interested in the intersection of infrastructure, security, automation, and how technology supports the people who depend on it every day.
Matt is often the person who turns strategic ideas into practical, well-designed systems.
A Practical Technologist
Matt's career has included technology leadership in healthcare, county government, nonprofits, libraries, and communications.
Working across those environments reinforced an important lesson:
Technology should reduce complexity—not create it.
Today he applies that perspective while supporting Fractional CIO engagements, technology strategy, Microsoft 365, cybersecurity, and operational improvement initiatives.
Clients appreciate Matt's ability to quietly untangle complicated technical problems without making technology feel overwhelming.
Like the rest of the FireOak team, Matt spent years working in libraries before moving into technology leadership.
That experience continues to shape how he thinks about information architecture, governance, and designing systems that people actually enjoy using.
Curious by Nature
Like the rest of the FireOak team, Matt enjoys understanding how technology works beneath the surface.
He's as comfortable discussing Microsoft 365 architecture and identity management as he is experimenting with Raspberry Pi projects, automation, APIs, home lab ideas, and new AI capabilities.
That curiosity helps him evaluate new technologies with both enthusiasm and healthy skepticism.
Outside work
Outside of work, Matt enjoys astronomy, aviation, golf, and baseball—especially cheering on the Durham Bulls and the Chicago Cubs. He also has a habit of finding new excuses to build something, whether that's a Raspberry Pi project, a home automation idea, or something that simply looked interesting enough to take apart.
Continue Exploring
Working across those environments reinforced an important lesson:
Technology should reduce complexity—not create it.
Today he applies that perspective while supporting Fractional CIO engagements, technology strategy, Microsoft 365, cybersecurity, and operational improvement initiatives.FireOak:
- Deep experience in technology in nonprofits, healthcare, and private sector companies
- Passion for thoughtful, human-centered technology decisions
- Patience
Matthew brings a thoughtful, curious, and pragmatic approach to every client engagement, always grounded in real-world needs and meaningful outcomes.
Matt joined FireOak Strategies in 2025 as the Technology Director and Senior Consultant. He has over 25 years of technology-related experience working in healthcare, government, education, and with nonprofits. Matt manages FireOak's internal technology stack to keep systems running smoothly and securely, and he leads many of our technology-related projects for clients.
Before joining FireOak, Matt was most recently the Director of IT for Transitions LifeCare, a regional nonprofit hospice organization. Prior to that, he served as Head of IT for the Durham County Library system – a department of Durham County Government. Earlier in his career, Matt worked for several nonprofits as part of marketing, communications, and web development teams, and earlier he was an elementary school technology specialist. He started his career as a video editor and director at CNN.
Matt has a B.A. degree in communications from the University of South Florida. Outside of work, Matt is passionate about space, aviation, and baseball. He’s a loyal fan of the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays and loves spending summer evenings cheering on the Durham Bulls.
