Founder/CEO of the Ultimate Gaming Championship (UGC). Matt has been a leader in the esports industry since he founded UGC in 2005. His vision for the company emerged from his love of video games and competition. Under his guidance UGC has expanded to include three core businesses - online tournaments, live events, and content creation - and evolved from operating out of 625 square foot attic space to producing record-breaking events in global stadiums for some of today’s most popular video game titles with such strategic partners as Microsoft, Caesars Entertainment, Blizzard, the United States Army, Red Bull and more. In 2016 Matt partnered with Lineup Media Group to scale the company globally. Matt's entrepreneurial spirit coupled with the skillsets he obtained from earning an architecture degree, underscore his management of all aspects of UGC. In his role, Matt is responsible for business planning, budgeting, fundraising, new business, strategic partnerships, production services, original content, streaming and merchandising. Additionally, Matt has been hands-on with all patent/technical writing since the inception of the company. Prior to founding UGC, Matt earned a Master of Architecture from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a focus on modular design, digital fabrication, 3D printing (rapid prototyping), and sustainable design. He also holds Manufacturing Skill Standards and OSHA outreach trainer certificates while instructing at Rend Lake College. Personal Research includes industrial design, manufacturing, electronics, mold creation/casting, CNC fabrication, 3D printing, graphic design, silk screening, and dye sublimation. Instructor at Rend Lake College focusing on Architecture, manufacturing, and Digital Fabrication.Interests include: Advancing architecture, manufacturing, and digital fabrication. Growth of competitive video gaming (esports) to a sustainable future for viewers/competitors. Creating innovative jobs for emergent technologies and industries.