Our Team
Matt (Owner)
First car owned: A 1959 Chevy Parkwood station wagon, featuring a big block Chevy motor and a 2 speed power glide transmission. It was a very unremarkable car, but it only cost me $300. After that I bought a 1967 Volvo 122S wagon, on which I learned how to rebuild the engine and retune S.U. carburetors. I loved that Volvo!
Favorite things to do outside of work: Hiking in the woods with Vicky and our dog, Shima. Boating is my absolute favorite thing. In the past we have sailed all around the San Juan Islands, Gulf Islands, and Desolation Sound and I hope to do more of that soon! I like tinkering around the house, fixing and building things.
Favorite things about working at Matt’s Import Haven: Being part of a great team! I enjoy brainstorming with the technicians on troublesome problems.
School / work background: I took my brother’s motorcycle apart when I was 6 years old (he was very angry, and no I did not put it back together). I attended Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR. At 16, I started a pole peeling business and a car repair business, in Southern Oregon. Three years later I got a job as a millwright, within 2 weeks of working there I became the lead millwright on the night shift. I moved to Whidbey Island in 1979 and became a partner at the Shell Station in Clinton, as the mechanic. A friend and I opened Sound Motors, an auto repair shop at Bailey’s Corner, in 1981. After that I worked as the lawn mower mechanic for the Useless Bay Golf Club for a couple of years. My next big adventure was opening Matt’s Import Haven in 1986!
Vicky (Owner)
First car owned: I inherited my Mom’s 1976 2-door Dodge Dart Swinger (dark green). I drove that car everywhere! I set off for college in it with my plug-in 8 track tape player. The poor thing rusted out from under me (the hazards of living on the East Coast). It served me well!
Favorite things to do outside of work: We now have our first grandchild, Emil, who live up in Vancouver BC. I LOVE spending time with him and watching him grow. I also thoroughly enjoy taking walks and hikes with Matt and our dog, Shima. My favorite hobbies are traveling, boating, reading, and cooking.
Favorite things about working at Matt’s Import Haven: I get to come to work every weekday and spend 8+ hours with a great group of people, my work family. I respect their individual talents and knowledge. It’s super awesome how we can put all those skills together and provide a great service to our customers. We have a lot of fun and work hard! I like how I am always learning new things about people and cars, even after 20+ years on the job. I love building relationships with our community.
School / work background: I grew up on the East Coast (NY/NJ area). After attending Skidmore College and working in NYC as the Editorial Director of a small medical publishing company, I moved out to Whidbey Island in 1990 (it’s a long story…). I met and married Matt and we have 2 wonderful children (Dinah & Quinn), of whom I am very proud. And now we have our first grandson, Emil! Can’t wait to see what the next 34 years of marriage brings!
Forrest (Service Manager)
First car owned: A 1980 Dodge St. Regis, it was an ex Washington State patrol car. I bought it when my Dad was out of town, as I knew he wouldn’t approve. It took me all over and lasted a little over a year, I think!
Favorite things to do outside of work: Spend time with my family. I like hiking, camping, fishing, yardwork – just about anything outside really.
Favorite things about working at Matt’s Import Haven: I work with a great group of passionate people!
School / work background: I went to college to study Law Enforcement, but didn’t finish. I wasn’t quite ready to grow up and be serious just yet. I started working in the automotive field in 1995. I’ve always had a passion for things mechanical.
Alex (Senior Technician)
First car owned: When I turned 16, my family helped me buy my first car. It was a silver 2004 Hyundai Sonata that I put 50,000 miles on in the first 2 years. I drove that car across the state 4 times until it needed a major repair that put it out of service at 200,000 miles. I repaired it in my mom’s small garage with a new cylinder head after saving all of my paychecks to buy the parts I needed. I bought it for $2,000 and sold it for $1,450. I loved that car!
Favorite things to do outside of work: I like to do projects around the house with my fiancé Annie. We take our dogs Bear and Darwin on walks, the beach, and about everywhere else we go. A large hobby of mine is electronics, small and large, either repairing them, installing them, or modifying them. Some of my time also goes into my Subaru WRX whether it be tuning, repairing, or just driving it -- it’s my pride and joy! Most of all I love spending time with Annie and starting our own life adventures, not to mention spending time with both of our families.
Favorite things about working at Matt’s Import Haven: Working with my coworkers and my bosses. To me, they make all the difference in the world. To work as a “family” and to get to know one another personally and professionally is just amazing. I learn something new every single day!
School / work background: I attended the South Whidbey School District until my sophomore year in high school. I transferred into the Running Start program and began as a freshman at Cascadia College, where we shared facilities and faculty with the University of Washington Bothell campus. I transferred from there to Everett Community College after a year to pursue an Associates Degree in Pre-Nursing, but found that my love for the automotive industry was much bigger than practicing any sort of medicine. Before working at Matt’s I was a dishwasher at Gordon’s On Blueberry Hill for almost 3 years, which was also my very first job.
Mark (Senior Technician)
First car owned: 1977 Datsun 280Z, dark metallic blue. This once modified beater still showed signs of its glory days with shiny paint in between the dents and scratches. It had no carpet and holes in the floor. Sadly I got rid of this car shortly after purchasing it. My appreciation of the car grew after I got rid of her.
Favorite things to do outside of work: Boating with my son Matias (7 years old). If you know me or work with me then I have probably talked your ear off about my boat. Any chance to get her in the water year round I will quickly take. Exploring the Puget Sound and fishing are my favorite off work past times.
Favorite things about working at Matt’s Import Haven: I love Matt’s stories about working at the sawmill. It's great being so close to my house so I can quickly get my boat in the water on work days.
School / work background: I spent K-12 on Whidbey Island, so it was very important as an 18 year old to move away after graduation. I got my first technician job at a GM dealership after moving to Olympia. I also attended the South Puget Sound Community College Automotive Technology program. After my son Matias was born I made the decision to move back to Whidbey Island. So glad to be living back on Whidbey, it’s a great place to have a boat!