Meet Matthew Montavon
Matthew is proud to have had a successful public administration career, both nationally and internationally. He has continued to be invested in his community by working and volunteering primarily supporting marginalized and vulnerable communities.
Born in South Bend, Indiana, into a family of eleven, including his loving parents, Matthew learned the true value of cooperation and progress. Like many of us, Matthew worked a variety of jobs (store clerk, farmhand, janitor, messenger) in high school and college, to help support himself.
Matthew received a bachelor's degree in political science and Spanish from The Catholic University of America, graduating with honors. Several years later he was awarded the Lilly Endowment Fellowship in support of his studies at Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. In pursuit of his master's degree in public administration, Matthew managed two projects for the government of the State of Indiana.
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, Matthew served two years in Central America, working in a rural area on an agriculture and grain storage program. He then worked with the Illinois Migrant Council out of Carbondale, Illinois, providing support to migrant farm-workers and rural disadvantaged people.
Following these endeavors, Matthew worked for a number of years in urban and regional planning and finance for local, regional, and national organizations in West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Matthew produced several publications which supported the improvement and efficiency of government. This work gave Matthew extensive insight into governing processes, policy making, and the interaction between local, state, and federal governments.
Matthew had a distinguished career with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy, retiring following 27 years of service. At FAO, Matthew's work supported a wide variety of programs to fight hunger and improve food and agricultural systems around the world.
Matthew and Marjorie E. were married in 1991 and had two children. Marjie passed away from cancer in 2019. Their daughter works for the National Cancer Institute, and their son works as an engineer.
Throughout the years Matthew has been a faithful Democrat, contributing to and volunteering for various campaigns, one even before he was old enough to vote. While working in Italy, he promoted voter registration and voting among the American community, and for several years, he served as the chairperson for the Rome Chapter of the Democrats Abroad, the overseas arm of the Democratic Party. In Sarasota, he was an active member and served for two years as the President of the Sarasota Democratic Hispanic Caucus.
Matthew has always been involved in community activities such as volunteering for food pantries, Habitat for Humanity, and Operation BBQ Relief in Ft. Myers following Hurricane Ian. He was also a Boy Scout Leader, an Officer in the Federation of International Civil Servants' Associations, and the President of the FAO Credit Union. For seven years Matthew has been a volunteer and co-coordinator of the Sarasota AARP Tax-Aide program and received an award in 2023 for outstanding service. He is a co-founder of the Immigration Justice Coalition of Southwest Florida.
Through Matthew's work and volunteering, he has demonstrated his lifelong commitment to improving our communities. He has a deep understanding of and empathy for people. Matthew's experiences through public service have given him the skills to address the pressing issues facing our district and country.
Matthew's roots in southwest Florida began in the mid-80s when his parents settled here. He established his Florida residency in the district in the mid-90s. Matthew's hobbies include travel, hiking, swimming, playing the guitar, and vegetable gardening. He is fluent in Spanish and Italian.
