faculty

Expertise:

Leadership, public speaking, business and government turnarounds, partnerships, CEO/C-Suite advisor, business-government relations, media crisis management

Experience: 

Originally from Michigan, Mr. Collier served as an Airborne-Ranger Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army, held major elective public office, and has worked in the private sector for over 23 years. Matt holds degrees from West Point and Harvard University. 

In 1987, Matt was elected as the youngest big city “strong” mayor in the United States (Flint, MI).  Following his four-year stint as Flint’s Chief Executive, Mr. Collier served in executive roles with several technology companies, including over 13 years of President & CEO experience, and company ownership. 

More recently, Matt served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary at the US Department of Veterans Affairs - responsible for all major partnerships outside of the VA. He is currently Founder and CEO of VetAccel Inc. (VAI); Principal and Chief Strategy Advisor for OutcomeMD, a software company based in LA; Senior Advisor with Fieldstone Equity Partners; Chairman of the Board of Directors of One World, a non-profit youth leadership and character development organization based in New York; and serves on the Board of the Boston-based Concussion Legacy Foundation. 

Matt frequently serves as a guest lecturer on effective leadership at educational institutions around the country, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, UCLA Anderson School of Management, and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Scholarly Work/Publications/Awards:

Matt has received numerous awards/recognitions associated with his leadership and accomplishments as an officer in the military, as a CEO in the private sector, and as a Senior Advisor at the VA.  His published articles include:  “Leadership: Learning from Success and Failure,” published in “The Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies.” In this piece, Matt retrospectively analyzes a major leadership success and a major leadership failure during his time as mayor of Flint, Michigan.  “Unexpected Leadership: Be Ready for Your Opportunity to Lead!” published as a blog with Thayer Leadership. Matt compares the leadership of Presidents Truman and Grant – both “unexpectedly” cast into momentous leadership positions. 

Education:

MPA, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

BS, Engineering, USMA, West Point, NY

Personal:

Matt is the father of four, plays recreational ice hockey, and resides in Washington DC.