When talking with Matt Cabrey ’88, it’s easy to tell that he is a passionate storyteller. He is able to recall events with vivid detail and enthusiasm, putting the listener in that moment with him. One story that he recalls well is how he decided to join Gamma Omega. It was a moment of chance; Matt and Sean Flatley ’87 were walking on campus and came across a flyer inviting men to learn about bringing a fraternity back to Penn State. “It was a meeting to regain the charter for Gamma Omega,” Matt says. “The most appealing aspect was that we had a chance to create something new, shaping an organization that would emphasize leadership and character building. We formed an interest group and then achieved the status of a colony by completing a series of community service projects and related requirements in order to earn the privilege of receiving our Gamma Omega charter from our national office. Through this process—meetings, projects, and getting to know the other young men who all had this shared vision—it became more compelling to me, and I, along with the other young men, grew enthusiastic about delivering on our goal.”
The more he learned about the principles of Alpha Tau Omega—Virtue, Truth, and Love—the more they resonated with Matt, and they continued to define his experience as he met more of the brothers. “The biggest thing I learned was empathy,” he says. “How we relate with others, how we learn from what others are experiencing. We had misunderstandings and disagreements, and we needed to identify the issues and overcome them. Gamma Omega helped me grow by providing those experiences.”
Matt credits the dedication and vision of a core group of alumni who came before him for breathing new life into Gamma Omega. These brothers from 1950-80 saw something that others did not: a bright, positive future for Gamma Omega. They guided a new era of young men, helping them understand and appreciate the values and understand what it means to be an Alpha Tau Omega brother. Homecoming weekends resonated with Matt as he got to reconnect with alumni. “These men chose to infuse new life into Gamma Omega,” he says. “They created and fostered a specialness that extended beyond the bricks and mortar of a building. As young men helping to shape a new beginning, we really connected with this inspiring vision.”
Following his days at Penn State and Alpha Tau Omega, Matt followed his own vision. A career in public relations and corporate communications led him to his current role as executive director of Select Greater
Philadelphia, an organization that infuses a new economic vibrancy across the 11-county neighborhood of Greater Philadelphia. He is the chief storyteller for the region, showcasing its business assets to inspire organizations from around the world to establish and grow their business in Greater Philadelphia.
He has come a long way from his first job after college when he worked the overnight shift at a radio station in Avalon, New Jersey. Matt scored that job by going to the station unannounced and asking for it. That experience and many others taught Matt how to be successful. “When I speak with college students and recent graduates about their careers, I share the importance of being the positive person in the room, setting goals, tapping your network, and that it’s OK to ask for help,” he says. “Most importantly, young people launching their careers have to go for it! You’re only going to get that job, meet that person, or achieve a positive outcome when you go for it.”
Matt lives in Exton, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Terry, and their three children: Alex, Courtney, and Luke. In his free time, he enjoys biking along the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey, the Chester Valley Trail in Chester County, and Kelly Drive in Philadelphia. He also enjoys playing paddleball in the winter and sand volleyball in the summer. Matt encourages undergraduate brothers to reach out to him for career guidance at [email protected].