Before he took charge of his father’s oil company, Matthew Fleeger built and sold a business in a completely different field. That experience, according to a 2021 CBN profile, shaped the way he now runs Gulf Coast Western.
Fleeger earned a business degree focused on finance and marketing from Southern Methodist University in 1985. He then worked at Gulf Coast Western, the Dallas firm his father Thomas H. Fleeger had founded in 1970, along with several other Texas companies.
A Detour into Medical Waste
In 1993, Fleeger launched MedSolutions Inc., a company that treated and disposed of medical waste for a range of health care facilities. Within a few years it had become a leading provider in its sector. Stericycle bought MedSolutions in 2007 for approximately $59 million.
Two years later, in 2009, Fleeger became President and CEO of Gulf Coast Western. He brought along a background in corporate structures, general partnerships, and acquisitions, plus skills in contract negotiation and team building. Under his direction, the profile reports, the company has grown consistently and completed numerous merger agreements.
Attitude Over Technique
Asked about his most important trait as a leader, Fleeger pointed to mindset rather than management method.
“Having a positive attitude in the face of adversity. I believe this is a contagious mindset for everyone and is required in every successful leader,” he said.
He also favors a transparent workplace culture meant to build trust and lift morale. Fleeger invests his own money in specific ventures and encourages investors to take an active part in managing theirs.
Outside the office, Fleeger is involved in Dallas/Ft. Worth philanthropy with a focus on children. He supports the Sadie Keller Foundation, which was started by a childhood leukemia survivor and helps families of children with cancer while raising awareness of pediatric cancer research funding. He also backs Dallas’ Parish Episcopal School, known for its hands-on STEM curriculum. For Gulf Coast Western, his blend of entrepreneurial and community experience has become part of the company’s identity. See related link for more information.
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