Matthew Watts got his start at the age of 15, in the hospitality industry, washing dishes at a restaurant in his hometown of Warren, OH. This experience developed his love for food and the hospitality industry.
He received his MBA from the University of Georgia's Terry School of Business, his undergraduate degree from Ohio University, in Journalism/Advertising, and an associates in Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu in Pittsburgh, PA.
After graduating from college he tried a few different jobs such as marketing/special events and selling mortgages before deciding to follow his dream of being a chef. In 2004, he enrolled in culinary school, at the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, a Le Cordon Bleu program, in Pittsburgh, PA.
After graduation he accepted a position at Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra, FL. After several years, as one of the banquet chefs, working holidays, weekends, and nights he looked for other opportunities, in food service, that offered more of a work life balance. This is when Matthew started working in contract food service, beginning as a catering manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Jacksonville, FL. From there he became the food service director at AT&T, then at AmericasMart, and joined the FLIK team at Coca-Cola in the spring of 2013. Matt joined the Norfolk Southern team in early 2022.
Since joining the team at Coca-Cola Matt has received the Flik's President Award in 2019, Morrison's Agent of the Year in 2019, and 2016 Flik Account of the Year.
Contact Matthew:
matthew.watts@compass-usa.com