Pearson is Ad/PR veteran, having served in account service and business development roles at large, medium and small agencies. He started his career at the largest public relations firm in the world; Burson-Marsteller. He toured with the New Kids on the Block and served as their press agent. When Salisbury native, Elizabeth Dole, ran for president in 2000 he served as the draft campaign press secretary. He also created Carolina Christmas at CMS.

A food industry veteran, Matt most recently was President of Apple Baking Company, a Salisbury, NC-based wholesale baking company best known for making the “Apple Ugly." During his tenure, they expanded distribution from 6 states to 21 states in just 3 years. In addition to spreading the calories to other states.In 1994, he went to work for C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. in Eden Prairie, MN, handling produce and transportation sales.