The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to another “Young Professional of the Month,” Matt Dodge.
How old are you? 27
Where do you live? I moved to Concord from Meredith in April, and have an apartment by Bicentennial Square. While the Lakes Region is a great place, I’m excited to learn more about Concord.
Where do you currently work? Since 2014, I’ve worked at UBS Financial Services in downtown Concord as a financial adviser and CFP (Certified Financial Planner) on the Alpine Wealth Management Team. We help families from around the country identify and reach their financial goals. I enjoy getting to know our clients on a personal level so our team can anticipate their needs before they do. The job involves a lot of problem solving, and each problem is unique and different. It’s very rewarding to help make our clients’ lives better.
Where did you go to school? I studied math and economics at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York. While I was there, I raced on their alpine ski team and kicked field goals for the football team. I had never played football before, but as a soccer player, it was an easy transition. I had a friend on the team who convinced me to tryout my sophomore year and, surprisingly, it turned out to be really successful. It was a great lesson for me to learn that you can step outside of your comfort zone and try something new because until you try, you never know what’s possible.
What do you like to do for fun? I love to go skiing in the winter. Pats Peak has a very well-run adult race league and I joined a team of fellow St. Lawrence grads last year. It’s a great excuse to get out on the slopes for a couple of hours on a weeknight and spend time with good people.
Favorite places to be? I love hiking in the White Mountains. There’s something therapeutic about the views and exercise that’s rejuvenating. My favorite is probably the Welch and Dickey Loop near Waterville Valley. It’s relatively quick and has great views for the majority of the hike.
Last book you’ve read? Moneyball by Michael Lewis, for maybe the fifth time.
How did you find out about CYPN and how has it benefited your business or you personally? I was part of a young professionals network when I lived in New York City after college and found it as a great way to meet people as well as to network professionally. When I moved down to Concord I wanted to meet new people and find out more about what Concord has to offer. Through CYPN I’ve been able to hear about other organizations and causes that people are passionate about, and the events are a great way to see different parts of Concord and try new things.
What organizations are you involved with? I’ve been a Rotarian for a couple of years and recently transferred to the Bow Rotary Club. It’s a passionate, diverse group of people who care about helping their neighbors and want to improve the lives of those around them. We have weekly breakfast meetings so you build great relationships as well, it’s a lot of fun. I would encourage anyone who is interested in learning more to join us on a Friday morning at the Old Town Hall in Bow at 8:30 a.m.
Most inspirational person in your life: My parents, without a doubt. They sacrificed a lot of time, effort and money for their three children and truly built their lives around us. They gave us every opportunity to grow, from helping us with our homework as kids, to driving us to endless numbers of competitions and events, to teaching us how to treat others with dignity and respect. I remember my mom encouraging all of us to perform one good deed per day. It could be as small as picking up a piece of trash, but they inspired me to take initiative and help those around me.
Greatest role model? I think Nelson Mandela was someone that many of us can try to emulate. He was a person who faced countless hardships and injustices, and even though he had every reason to be spiteful, he was selfless in that he forgave others and worked to bring people together. I think we could use more of that in today’s world.
Favorite famous person? Bill Murray
What’s your favorite restaurant in Concord? The Barley House. It’s right across the street from our office and my go-to spot for lunch meetings.
What’s your favorite place to go in Concord? It’s not a particular place, but I’ve found a lot of great bike routes in the area. I’m having fun exploring and trying to imagine the varying micro cultures of different towns and communities.
Favorite movie of all time? Young Frankenstein. Mel Brooks is just great. I was really sad to hear the news about Gene Wilder this past week, but I’m glad his talent lives on and can be shared with others through so many good movies.
What is one of your life goals? My sister just gave birth to her daughter recently, and she’s my parents’ first grandchild. I would love to help teach her how to ski in a few years.
What has been your favorite CYPN event so far? My favorite has been the networking event at TITLE Boxing Club. It was a unique experience; most of us had never tried boxing before. I think having the opportunity to try something brand new that I wouldn’t have done otherwise is always something to take advantage of, and our group had a blast.
If you could visit any country, where would you go? I have a good friend who flies cargo planes for the Air Force who is stationed outside of Tokyo. I would love to go visit him and see Japan.
Where is the best place you’ve visited? My younger brother works as a ski patroller for Vail Resorts in Colorado. The back bowls in Vail have to be one of the greatest playgrounds in the world. It’s great to have a good reason to visit him as often as I can. He’ll torture me by texting photos on a weekday morning while he’s out working and skiing untracked powder. I love him, but maybe not so much during those times!
Who would you really like to meet? I never had the chance to meet two of my grandparents, and only knew one grandparent well. If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk with them, I think it would be fascinating to learn more about my family through their eyes.
Tell us a few interesting facts about yourself! I took a year off after high school before going to college, mostly to focus on ski racing, but in that time I had many other great experiences that helped shape who I am. I traveled to Chile. I drove across the country with a close friend and lived in Colorado. I think most significantly I had an internship with a mentor of mine, Tom Berry, who then hired me onto his wealth management team at UBS almost 10 years later. Looking back, that was a big year for me and I’m thankful I was able to take advantage of the opportunities around me.
