Chris Matthews has over fourteen years of media, communications, and public affairs experience. At VOX Global, Matthews manages a portfolio that includes a variety of public-facing corporate efforts to affect existing legislation. The efforts include grasstops, grassroots, public opinion research, coalition building, and media outreach. 

Prior to joining VOX, he served as Director of Communications for Senator Gordon H. Smith, a leading member of key Senate committees including Commerce, Science, Transportation, and the Finance Committee. As Senator Smith’s chief spokesman and media strategist, Matthews gained extensive knowledge and experience translating complex issues into effective messages aimed at securing support among the general public and within Congress. 

Matthews also served as Communications Director and Press Secretary for the House Agriculture Committee and its former chairmen, Robert F. Smith (Oregon) and Larry Combest (Texas). At the Committee, he provided strategic insight to position communications to reflect positively upon the Committee, the committee chairman, and the four subcommittee chairmen from various geographic regions.

As Press Secretary and Legislative Assistant for former U.S. Representative Wes Cooley, Matthews was responsible for generating media coverage, writing speeches, issuing news releases, writing opinion editorials, and drafting public statements. There, he developed and implemented press strategies that strengthened public support for former Representative Cooley’s legislative endeavors while building and maintaining long-term, positive relationships with members of the media.

Matthews began his career as a Lobbying Assistant for Bergner, Bockorny, Clough, and Brain where he supported government relations efforts on behalf of Fortune 500 clients in diverse industries including telecommunications, health care, and entertainment.

Matthews graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Government and Foreign Affairs.