Matt was born in Greensboro, NC and moved to Erwin, Tennessee as a boy where he was raised on a 30 acre farm deep in the Appalachian Mountains. He worked growing Burley tobacco, corn, and potatoes as well as tending the families animals. Working the land taught Matt the value of hard work and respect for the environment.

Matt attended Western Carolina University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Health, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration(MPA). After a brief stint in Greensboro, Matt made his way back to Asheville and worked for the non-profit, Neighborhood Housing Services, building affordable housing and writing grants. He then decided to start his own residential Green Building Company, M.C Kern Contracting, Inc. in 2002. Matt has also been a Co-Organizer of the very successful French Broad River Festival, Inc. since 1997. Matt has been married to his wife Kirsten for 22 years and has 2 teenage sons, Caswell and Christian. They have lived in Buncombe County and the Riceville community for over 20 years. Kirsten graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina. Her career as a Physical Therapist included 30 years at CarePartners Asheville. Currently, Kirsten serves as a local Health Care Navigator guiding aging clients/families through illness, including the complexities of dementia as well as end of life care.

In the past 25 years, Matt has served on many diverse Boards and Commissions and has given many hours to serving the Buncombe County community. Matt has served as the Chairman of the AB Tech Board of Trustees and is the past President and current member of the Friends of the WNC Nature Center. Matt also serves as the 1st Vice-Chair for the Democratic Men of Buncombe County and on the Buncombe County Schools Capital Committee approving all expenditures for capital improvements to all schools in the county and the city. He has served on the Culture and Recreation Authority(CRA), Mountain Area Child and Family Center (now Verner Center for Early Learning), the Asheville Parks and Greenway Foundation, and the Asheville Greenway Commission.

Matt would like to use his years of community service and his knowledge as a business owner to help the citizens of Buncombe County. As a family man and trusted member of our community, he will add enormous value to the Buncombe County Commission, and this is why he is asking for your support.