SPOTLIGHTS
FLYING HIGH
M
Story by: Jacki Donaldson
att Bowman was born in
Officer in the Army, urged him to
the Navy. “I told him I’m not going to
the low country of South
give it a try. “My focus was on making
do it,” Matt said. “And then he started
Carolina and a month later,
money,” Matt said. “I wanted to go into
listening to my vision and talking to me
his dad enlisted in the United States
pharmaceutical sales and move to
about aviation. He told me I could do
Army. Matt went on to live with
Miami.”
something big and make a lot of money.
his family all over the world, from
‘Now, you are talking,’ I told him, and
Germany to Puerto Rico and up and down the entire East Coast. When the kid who attended 11 schools in 11 years thought about settling down as an adult, one city came to mind: Miami.
“ instead of selling drugs, I ended up drilling holes in the sky
“
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He wanted a house on the water, a
instead of selling drugs, I ended up drilling holes in the sky.” Matt transitioned from Army ROTC to a Navy scholarship, earning $3,000 per month while in school and also partnering in several entrepreneurial
nice car, and plenty of money. Matt did
Money did arrive for Matt, but not by
ventures, like a nightclub and a
eventually land in Miami but not until
way of pharmaceutical sales. A man
sandwich shop, and balancing his
he’d accomplished many impressive
named Captain Ron Beasley, a two-
academics and leadership pursuits (he
feats.
time Navy Recruiter of the Year started
was involved in Student Government
Matt’s first stop was Florida A&M
calling looking for Matt’s college
and was president of his residence
University (FAMU), where he spent
roommate. Eventually, unable to get in
hall). After graduating from FAMU in
three years in Army ROTC. He didn’t
touch with the roommate, he started
1992, he was picked to fly Navy jets.
love the experience, but his dad, an
engaging Matt about opportunities in
His dad, who had always wanted to
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