Profile: Samuel “Matt” Matthews

Meet Samuel “Matt” Matthews,
Senior Manager, Data Center Operations at Google

Name: Samuel “Matt” Matthews 

Title: Senior Manager, Data Center Operations 

Organization: Google 

Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

Current City: New Albany, Ohio 

Q: When did you develop your first interest in technology? 

Don’t laugh…but it started with a CD player. I received one for Christmas and being careless I broke it. Knowing I would not receive another, I borrowed some tools, opened it up, and started troubleshooting it. During that time, I noticed two broken wires. After taking it apart, I took it to school and asked the teacher to utilize the solder station. Following a few attempts, it worked! Then and there I was interested in tech. 

Q: How did you get your start in technology?

I started my career in tech after joining the Air Force in 2000. My specialty was Electrical and it required knowing schematics and a lot of electrical equipment. 

Q: What’s something you wished you knew about technology and tech careers when you were in school?

I wish I knew how it would shape the world. Almost everything we utilize now has some form of technology. Additionally, I would have tried to obtain more knowledge at a younger age. 

Q: What’s a type of day like at work for you working at Google in Ohio?

It depends on the day. I manage three sites in the Columbus area and all of them are at different phases. Some of my days may be taking meetings, on a construction site, then wrapping it up walking the data center floor ensuring the internet is operating for our customers. 

Q: What’s one thing that you’d tell your 15-year-old self?

Take all your allowance and invest in tech (kidding! Kind of!) There are two American Computer scientists in a garage named Larry Page and Sergey Brin that are going to change the world as you know it. Honestly, hard work and study harder. It always pays off, because competence gets compensated. 

Q: What’s a fun fact about you?

A fun fact is that I have been to 34 countries and lived in 5 countries for a year or longer. 

Q: How would you spend a perfect Ohio Saturday day?

Of course at an Ohio State Buckeyes game!

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Learn more about Matt’s work by connecting with him on LinkedIn.