Meet Matthew

Born and raised in Brookside, Matthew Nelson is the oldest brother of two siblings, Jesse and Lesley. When he was ten years old, his parents separated, and he stepped into a support role for his younger siblings. Because of this, school was a challenge, but he persevered, attending night school and summer sessions to make up credits.

At the age of 14, he helped his dad start a marble and granite countertop fabrication business. Over the years, he held various jobs—busboy, waiter, bartender, and cook—all before graduating high school. His summers as a camp counselor were unforgettable. It was there that he developed a passion for helping youth. While he was there he also met another counselor who would later become his wife, Emily.

Following his time at summer camp, Matthew worked at the Youth Shelter at Youth Services of Tulsa, where he continued to counsel at-risk youth. Throughout the years he has taken pride in watching the youth he counseled grow into successful adults. While he was working at Youth Services he simultaneously juggled college as well as another job at a local hospital. During the 2011 blizzard he walked six miles between the hospital and the shelter to cover his shifts, catching a few hours of sleep in his boss’s office in-between.

Despite the demanding schedule, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from OSU Tulsa. Later, he spent three years in Kansas City, working as a ropes course instructor as well as at Crittenton Children’s Center, an inpatient psychiatric hospital for at-risk youth in crisis. Eventually, he returned to Tulsa, dedicating himself to the marble and granite business, revitalizing the family business he helped start all of those years ago, and allowing his dad to retire.

Matthew's greatest joy comes from raising his two amazing children. He now serves on the PTA board of the same school he attended as a child. His children, along with his wife, are his everything—the reason he strives to make a positive impact. As a city council candidate, he aims to leave the community better than he found it, just as his dad taught him.