Matthew Sims isn’t the type of guy to sit on the sidelines if thinks he can make a difference.
During the past 10 years, he’s made a big difference: He’s started three businesses; helped raise $1.5 million in cash and in-kind donations for Rock ‘n Ribs; earned his bachelor’s degree and law degree; and devoted countless hours to volunteerism and mentorship. His service to the community follows his service to the country through the U.S. Air Force.
In 1995, as a young senior airman, he volunteered to deploy to Saudi Arabia. There, he served as a shop foreman and lead training supervisor for 25 personnel. It was a formative experience for Sims.
“I had the distinct honor to serve this nation and its people in several countries during a six-year period,” Sims says. “That honor, combined with the chance to not only serve along with, but also lead this country’s brightest young men and women, shaped me into who I am today.”
At the age of 27, he was married and had two kids by the time he started his college career at Missouri State University. In 2003, while attending college, he opened a car dealership he was able to build and sell for a profit by the time he reached his second year of law school. In 2008, after securing his law degree, he opened The Sims Law Firm LLC with his wife. About a year later, after the family-law practice became profitable, he gained experience in civil litigation, working for four years at Wallace, Saunders, Austin, Brown & Enochs before rejoining his wife last year.
In 2013, Sims started his third venture, Ormsby Group LLC, with five other entrepreneurs from different backgrounds.
“At the Ormsby Group, we help individuals bring their business ideas to reality and help existing businesses reach the next level,” Sims says. “With each member having small-business experience, we are able to analyze the business or idea, secure the necessary funding and launch businesses the right way, significantly increasing the likelihood of success.”
While his entrepreneurial acumen is clear, it is his volunteer service that sets Sims apart from the crowd. As a member of the Rock ’n Ribs executive committee, he currently serves as chairman of sponsorships.
“Anyone who knows me knows I’m passionate about Rock ‘n Ribs and the money I raise for our children’s charities,” he says. “I spend approximately 300 hours per year developing sponsorships and have raised approximately $300,000 cash and in-kind per year for the last five years.”
He’s also a charter member of Springfield Metro Rotary, where he has worked to help some of the area’s youngest and brightest achieve success.
Through Rotary, Sims has overseen the selection of four high school seniors to participate in Rotary Youth Leadership Academy; helped launch the Nixa High School Interact Club; helped create a mentoring committee; and assisted in the area’s expansion of the group’s Don’t Meth With Us program. In 2012, his efforts earned him Rotarian of the Year honors.[[In-content Ad]]
