Meet Matthew Guay

This week, we are very excited to highlight Matthew Guay . Initially joining the team as a Media Coordinator, this self-proclaimed "bad boy when it comes to data" flexed his skills and recently assumed his current role as the Pathlabs Data Specialist.?Let’s learn more about Matt in this week's Employee Spotlight!

____

What was your original career prospect when growing up? What are you doing now at Pathlabs?

Believe it or not, I have had multiple. A much younger Matt was fascinated with dinosaurs, so naturally, being a paleontologist was the plan. After not really knowing what to do in my early college years and twenties, I was driven to be a chef through my appreciation of conquering challenges and developing a new work ethic, which was missing at the time.?

Going back to finish my undergraduate I still had the ambition of being a chef while setting myself apart in the industry. However, my path changed when I discovered my fascination for technology and data. I went on to get my Master's in Business Analytics at the University of Montana.

Now, I am the Data Specialist for Pathlabs, where I am very content. I am still learning and easing into the new role and responsibilities, alongside decompressing from graduate school, but life is getting better every day.

____

Where are you working from (physical location-wise)?

I stick to a hybrid schedule of working from home or in the office, depending on my schedule for the day.

____

Who in your family do you most often compare yourself to??

This would definitely have to be my father, Professor Ed Guay. He is my greatest supporter and biggest challenger. I am always looking for the next opportunity to show him something that he didn’t know I was capable of. Even though you can regularly find us bickering on the golf course, I have always admired his energy and passion in the classroom, which has set a benchmark for my professional and personal life that I hope I can eventually bring my own twist to someday.

____

Was there anything that you ever did that made you be like, “dang, I am frickin awesome”?

Learning how to cook, by far! I picked up this skill and started working in the industry when I was very immature and had little direction, which is okay. Cooking allowed me to find passion and learn what responsibility for something greater than myself actually meant, which allowed me to manage some of the busiest kitchens in Missoula. On top of that, cooking for others is how I express love and connect with the ones that are important to me. This skill set also gave me the confidence to shoot for the stars.?

Frankly, it gives me light. My time in kitchens sparked a passion for teaching others and helping initiate progress and growth, so I have been trying to pivot my work more in the direction where I can teach others while supporting the common good. This was further solidified during my time in Romania as an e-commerce consultant for a local hardware store chain in the country.

____

What is your favorite fall/winter activity??

There is no better place than Missoula in the fall! Grizzly football, tailgating, fall golf, and admiring the Garden City for what it is.?

____

It’s Friday night, and you are given $5,000. Who are you taking to dinner, and where are you going??

This one is easy, I would take my best mate, Jackson, to the Pink Door in Seattle.?

____

What is your preferred format for listening to music??

Spotify…but I also enjoy listening to CDs when I am being lazy around the house cooking and cleaning.

____

Why did you want or choose to work at Pathlabs??

I had a unique exposure to Pathlabs at first. It started when Mario (Pathlabs COO) came into my applied data analytics class during my master's program, which I’m pretty sure was a complete accident! After chasing him down in my Big Bird onesie, because naturally, it was also Halloween, he got me in connection with a data set for my Capstone Project.

After that, the people-first mentality of Pathlabs began to shine through. Thomas Walz, a Project Manager for the company, became my point of contact for my project. Now, looking back, I understand how much of his valuable time he gave me to help me succeed and grow. Lastly, a coffee conversation with David Myers, an Account Manager, revealed that Pathlabs truly has like-minded individuals that I can connect with.

____

When people meet you, what do you think is the biggest mistake they make when forming an impression of you?

That I am all play and no work. I like to have fun, I like to be goofy, and sometimes I can talk a lot from my ADD and ADHD. However, I am always looking into how I can raise the stakes in my life and see how I can make the future a little brighter.

____

Do you love winning, or do you hate losing?

I love winning because it is the byproduct of failure.

____

What excites you about the future? What is your philosophy of the future?

My number one life motto is ‘Life doesn’t get easier; you just get stronger,’ and I try to live by that as much as I can. Individuals can be extremely fixated on only what is positive, which is natural. Without some struggle in my life and without getting pushed to the ground a few times, I wouldn’t have all the good things I hold close to me. Understanding to appreciate the bad times and learn from them is priceless.

____

If you had to work but didn’t need the money, what would you do??

Golf Sales Associate. So, I can hit on the simulators all day and get free rounds of golf.

____

Matt, you continue to surprise us with your exceptional skills and positive attitude. We can’t wait to see you continue to grow!