MATTHEW COLLISTER

“As a team member from outside the walls of Avery Dennison, Matt has been a great asset in helping me convey our organization’s message to customers and the industries we serve. What is truly outstanding is his ability to understand complex scenarios and simplify them so they can be easily understood...at first glance. Also Matt is more than a “copywriter,” he is a communications professional that understands the materials we are creating play a key role in delivering sales for our organization. I am happy to call Matt a valued member of my extended team.”

— Jim Brazytis, Marketing Communications Manager at Avery Dennison Performance Tapes

“I’ve worked with Matt for over 16 years as a peer and then a client. When we were both at Progressive, he was my go-to person for all my communication needs while I was a Brand Manager. He has the unique ability to take the most complex, and often times boring material, and turns it into the perfect story that engages readers and delivers the appropriate messages. In my role as VP of Communications at Stillwater Insurance, Matt is my first phone call when I need professional help. We have developed a culture of ease and trust between us that is unlike any other relationship that I have with a freelancer. He listens, he asks appropriate probing questions, he brainstorms out loud and he always delivers copy that delivers results. The library of consumer-facing product brochures that he wrote all copy for us was recognized by IABC with a Heritage Region Silver Quill award. One of the judges provided feedback that said “I wish my insurance company explained things so well! The language is clear, concise and invites the reader to keep reading to learn more. Excellent writing.” In addition to his incredible talent, Matt is one of the nicest people that I know. His integrity, work ethic, humor and passion for his craft are why I consider it a privilege to work with him.”

— Dawn Boston, VP of Marketing and Communications at Stillwater Insurance Group

“I’ve worked with Matt in a number of roles during the past eight years: as a consultant collaborating with then-editor Matt on brand voice and writing guidelines for Progressive, as a peer on Progressive’s Communications team, as his manager while serving as Progressive’s Communications Director, and today, as Marketing Director, I use Matt regularly as a freelancer for high-profile, high-impact communications projects. I believe my experience working with Matt in so many different capacities makes me as knowledgeable about his talents, work ethic and values as anyone, and I consider Matt one of the most capable, hard-working and ethical professionals I’ve met in my career.          

Here’s why:

He’s curious. Matt’s engaged and interested in the world and people around him. He’s an active learner who seeks to understand culture, history, politics and science. He brings this curiosity to every project, which makes his thinking and writing more nuanced, contextualized and relevant. He’s a talented thinker and writer—a quick study who easily translates new knowledge into confident, concise prose that’s free of the jargon and business-speak used as a crutch by less capable writers. He’s the rare person who is as comfortable discussing esoteric technical details as marketplace trends and strategy. 

He’s a genuinely caring, principled person. It sounds almost quaint these days, but Matt is someone people want to work with and be around. 

He is a natural leader who earns trust by making clear commitments, delivering what he promises and making those around him better. I’ve yet to meet anyone who has worked with Matt that has anything but positive things to say about his work and character. 

In a nutshell: Matt’s a smart, talented, trustworthy professional. If you’re reading this because you’re considering hiring him, proceed with confidence. I’m a huge fan, and I’m sure you will be too.”

— Kevin Ament, Brand, Marketing, Content, and Experience Leader

“I had the pleasure of bringing Matt into Progressive in a writing role, in which he excelled. When the opportunity of Editor presented itself, Matt eagerly threw his hat in the ring. He was the perfect choice. He has the whole package: business savvy, excellent writing skills, detail orientation, and terrific interpersonal skills. Matt was instrumental in developing Progressive’s Voice and bringing a level of analytics to the copywriting there that propels the brand forward. And, he is an incredible pleasure to work with. ”

— Leslie Wright, Chief of Staff at Brightway Insurance