November First Friday Breakfast

Matt Brewer
President & CEO
Choate Construction Company

As President & CEO of Choate Construction Company, Matt Brewer is responsible for the development and implementation of the firm’s long-term vision, strategy, and direction. His passion to advance Choate Construction’s mission and reputation in the industry leads the company to provide the highest level of service to its clients, while offering rewarding careers to its employee-owners. Matt leads Choate’s six offices across the Southeast, guiding its 500+ employee-owners to foster successful, lasting relationships with clients and trade partners.

As a philanthropic-minded leader, Matt has a long personal history of active service across multiple 501c3 charitable organizations. His recent involvement includes an eight-year tenure serving on the Board of Directors for CFF, where Choate has been named the top national fundraiser for five years. Matt has also served on the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team for multiple years and currently serves as the Chair for the AHA’s 2023 Lowcountry Heart Walk.

After being named Choate’s President & CEO, one of Matt’s first initiatives was creating Building Up, Choate’s philanthropic identity and program which raised $1.26 million in charitable funds in 2021 alone. Building Up represents Choate’s more than 30-year dedicated history of supporting philanthropic efforts across multiple organizations, putting a name to Choate’s collective mission of strengthening its communities through giving.

Through both companywide initiatives and office-specific passion projects, Choate’s Philanthropy in Action has helped facilitate tangible changes for each community in which Choate operates. Beyond the monetary impact of Building Up, Choate employee-owners have dedicated countless hours to organizations across the Southeast, such as the American Heart Association, Ronald McDonald House, Feeding America affiliates, and 60+ other local and regional nonprofits.

Cars & ‘Q for the Cause, a charity car show supporting longtime Choate beneficiary, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), was established by Choate in 2009. To date, the show has raised over $2.6 million in its lifetime, and in total Choate has raised more than $6 million for the Foundation. Similarly, in 2021 Choate founded the family-friendly BuildStrong festival in Charlotte, NC. In its inaugural year, BuildStrong raised $326,000 to benefit AutismStrong, and the event attracted more than 200,000 attendees.

As a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Matt understands the value of service, commitment, and leadership. Matt’s desire to improve his community led to his engagement as a member of his local Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, where he has served for a decade. Matt has also served for multiple terms on the organization’s 1,600-member Executive Committee, and he currently sits as the Chamber’s First Vice Chair. Additionally, Matt is the Chair for the Regional Policy Committee, made up of more than 150 business leaders in the region.

Matt is a graduate of Leadership Charleston class of 2013 and the FBI Citizens Academy class of 2014. He carries the LEED AP BD+C credential and has also been an active member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) for nearly 15 years. Matt enjoys spending time with his family and has attended his local church for more than 20 years.

About Choate Construction

Choate Construction Company is one of the largest nationally recognized general contractors in the Southeast with offices in Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Nashville, Raleigh, and Savannah. Founded in 1989, 100% employee-owned Choate Construction specializes in both ground-up and interior construction, believing success is driven by its relationships and reputation. Choate has built a resume of projects large and small across the nation in multiple market sectors. From its innovative OneLife safety program to its efforts to “Build Up” the communities in which it serves, the heart of Choate is its people. Please visit www.choateco.com for more information.