Before he ran an oil and gas company, Matthew Fleeger built and sold a medical waste business. That background, described in a December 2021 CBN profile, helps explain how he approaches his current role as President, CEO, and Director of Gulf Coast Western.
Fleeger studied at Southern Methodist University and graduated in 1985 with a business degree focused on finance and marketing. He then worked for Gulf Coast Western, the Dallas firm his father, Thomas H. Fleeger, had founded in 1970, along with several other Texas businesses. That mix of experience, the profile suggests, gave him a practical grounding in how companies are run.
Building MedSolutions
Fleeger launched MedSolutions Inc. in 1993. The company treated and disposed of medical waste for a range of health care facilities and, within a few years, grew into a leading provider in that field. Stericycle bought MedSolutions in 2007 for approximately $59 million.
Returning to the Family Firm
Fleeger became President and CEO of Gulf Coast Western in 2009. The profile points to his experience with corporate structures, general partnerships, acquisitions, contract negotiation, and team building as preparation for the job. It adds that the firm has completed numerous merger agreements under his direction.
The article also credits his decisions with carrying the company through the downturn tied to the 2008 recession. Corporate overhead was cut sharply, key personnel remained, and investment in major prospects continued. When economic conditions settled, the profile says, Gulf Coast Western emerged in a stronger position.
Asked about the trait he values most in a leader, Fleeger pointed to outlook rather than technique: “Having a positive attitude in the face of adversity. I believe this is a contagious mindset for everyone and is required in every successful leader.”
Outside the office, he supports the Sadie Keller Foundation, which was established by a childhood leukemia survivor and helps families of children with cancer. He also backs Dallas’ Parish Episcopal School, known for its hands-on STEM curriculum. Refer to this article to learn more.
Subscribe for more about Gulf Coast Western on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClatjZSgEM1uGa1BdIbsOPQ