Matt joined Ferguson partners in 2024 as Managing Director of the Southeast region, based out of Charlotte, NC. Matt has successfully conducted searches on behalf of a diversified client base for positions ranging from Manager through the C-Suite and is a member of professional organizations including National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and Pension Real Estate Association (PREA).Matt previously worked with Crown Advisors since January 2020 as a Search Consultant, Director, and later Senior Director. Clients ranged from local and regional developers, owners, and operators of various product types to publicly traded REITs with national footprints. Matt began his executive search career in 2013 by working with his father at The McAulay Smith Firm, a recognized leader in retained executive search serving a national client base ranging from small private companies to Fortune 50 corporations. Upon his father’s retirement, Matt established his own executive search practice, Steelhead Search, which he ran for a couple of years before being recruited to Crown Advisors to focus exclusively on real estate search.Prior to his executive search career, Matt spent nine years in sales and marketing in the commercial real estate industry. He was a founding member of CBRE’s Carolinas Multi-Housing Group and successfully brokered over $1 billion in institutional multifamily assets ($10M-$100M) throughout the Carolinas. He also spent four years with Bissell Patrick, LLC conducting office leasing and sales activities.A native of Charlotte, NC, Matt graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He is a Board Member of publicly traded Uwharrie Capital Corp and Uwharrie Bank. He is also an active member at his local church and is involved in various alumni relations and fundraising efforts for his alma mater.