Matt Myers, B.B.A. Business Administration '88

If UAA alum Matt Myers gave you a business card, you'd see the many acronyms that follow his name--MAI, MRICS and FFIVEM--and know that he worked hard to get to where he is today. Matt has more than 20 years of professional property experience in valuation, brokerage and development. He was an entrepreneur and founder of LTC Realty Consultants in Charlotte, North Carolina. He's traveled to work in California, Florida, Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati and is now a senior lecturer of property and valuation at RMIT University in Australia. He is also the proud parent of Jordan Myers, who is currently studying journalism at his alma mater.

But today, Matt looks back at his time at UAA remembering Professor Hayden Green, the man who encouraged him to interview with a prominent commercial appraisal firm in Anchorage; thus beginning his real estate appraisal career.

"I was a business student who had no clue about what I wanted to do until Professor Green encourage me to consider real estate appraising," Matt says.

After graduating from UAA, Matt, who'd lived in Alaska since he was eight years old, knew that he was ready to do some traveling and exploring. "Twenty years ago, Alaska was much more isolated and remote. I was ready to break free and be more adventurous. So, I looked for career opportunities in other states."

Matt worked in several places in the U.S., but eventually wanted a change. In addition to his property consulting work, he'd been teaching appraisal courses part-time at a local community college. "I really enjoyed it. It seemed so much more rewarding."

Sparked by his newer interest, Matt searched online and found a position as a university lecturer in the Fiji Islands. At the time, Matt was the sole proprietor of a realty consulting business. "I sold my business, sold the house and moved to Fiji. It was the best thing I ever did."

For Matt, moving to Fiji was great in more ways than one. He met and married his wife, Ani. He also established a stronger passion for teaching and sharing his knowledge and skills to help develop a small island country. "It's really nice to see your students grow up and see how they're doing years later," Matt said.

It was that same thought that led Matt to contact former UAA professor, Hayden Green. Matt met up with Green in 1999 at a conference in Fiji. "It was so special to see Professor Green, for him to see where I was in my career and to particularly thank him for mentoring me as a student and helping put me on the path of where I am today."

Today, Matt still lives for teaching his students and helping people in developing countries. "I'd love to teach in Africa someday," he said.

Now he's impacting students like Professor Green did for him. Matt's advice to current college students seeking to find their path in life is to "Open your eyes and seize the opportunities life presents you. Just be willing to take the risks."