spent his university years participating in archeological digs in the Andes and in Europe as part of his anthropology research. He also pursued his other interest, German literature, by visiting great literary sites behind the Iron Curtain at a time when it was severely restricted to Westerners. In his spare time, he obtained his pilot's license and became an Outward Bound mountaineering instructor in the Berchtesgaden Alps, forging relationships that continue to this day. While working on his doctorate in maritime law in Washington, D.C., Matt took every opportunity to crew on a German tall ship in the Baltic Sea, working his way up from deck hand to boatswain's mate to executive officer. Even when the ship was in drydock, Matt took his navigation skills and restless spirit across the Sahara Desert with an offroad convoy of European researchers. When it became apparent that travel was his real passion in life, he joined Goodspeed and Bach, Inc. and is now planning and implementing tours and events around the world. Matt and his wife, Amy live in New York State and have two children, Harry and Rebecca.