Matthew Simons

Matthew is a Midwestern born and raised professional living in Lexington, KY, whose entire Business Development philosophy is built on the understanding that empathy and authenticity are the core of great relationship development. This human-centered approach is what drives his ability to generate a multi-million dollar revenue engine. He has a proven foundation of over 11 years of successful remote and outside sales expertise—a work strategy he mastered well before we were stuck inside and remote work became the norm.

Matthew specializes in leading Greenfield New Business Development and Market Expansion efforts within the specialized world of meetings, events, and foodservice. His comprehensive product expertise includes media and sponsorships, advertising, SaaS, back office management, and finance software. Hiring him means gaining a dedicated Hunter and a proven leader in Consultative Selling who is expert at driving significant Exhibit Sales and Sponsorships. He has successfully grown client bases from scratch to over 150 restaurant brands and $2 million in recurring revenue by creating high-value, trust-based partnerships that guarantee sustained Revenue Growth.

The measure of a successful professional is their impact. Matthew prides himself on tackling complex challenges and delivering maximum commercial results, such as orchestrating new exhibition pavilions that generated a remarkable $4.5 million in revenue or leading a team to a five-year sell-out streak for a national trade show. He brings deep skills in Sales Negotiation, Account Management, and cross-functional collaboration. Outside of work, he is a dedicated husband, proud father (who holds a black belt in ‘dad jokes’), and a passionate Chicago sports fan. If your organization is looking for an accomplished leader to scale your business and bring a little genuine enthusiasm to the sales floor, connect with him today.

You’re a sales-focused professional with experience spanning high-level business development, consulting, and partnership-driven growth, particularly in experiential, events, and travel-adjacent businesses. You’ve worked closely with founders and leadership teams to open new revenue channels, refine go-to-market strategy, and turn conversations into measurable results, often stepping in during periods of transition or restructuring. Known for a relationship-first approach, you combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution—prospecting, pitching, and closing—while adapting quickly across freelance, contract, and full-time environments. Your background reflects a blend of commercial discipline, creative problem-solving, and comfort operating in fast-moving, ambiguous situations where results matter quickly.

Graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a bachelors degree in marketing with a concentration in sports marketing.