Vic Mathias is a unique individual in that his career has led him down three separate paths, almost simultaneously: Organization Management Professional, Businessman and Volunteer. Sandwiched in between were some two thousand speeches (and still counting) and more than four hundred published articles.
His professional career saw him become the Chief Executive Officer of the Austin, Texas Chamber of Commerce while still in his twenties and continue in that position for twenty-seven years. During this time Mathias directed the organizing of ten subsidiary organizations and was responsible for their funding, staffing, recruiting of volunteers and operations.
When Mathias left the Austin Chamber, there were more than three thousand active volunteers participating in its various projects and organizations. To convey an idea of the wide variety of activities that were developed and directed by him, one need only look at a listing of them:
The Austin Economic Development Council
The Austin Aqua Festival
Austin Magazine
Austin-Travis County Livestock Show
Bergstrom-Austin Community Council
Capitol Area Security Council
Leadership Austin
Highland Lakes Tourist Association
Artist Harvest
Austin Foreign Trade Council
Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau
It should be noted that during Mathias' tenure as CEO, Austin saw a major expansion of its economic base through the development and attraction of high-tech firms to the area. These included IBM, Westinghouse, TI, Motorola, Advanced Micro Devices, Data General, Abbott Labs, McNeil Laboratories, Lockheed and many more.
Paramount in the success of the newly formed organizations and of the economic development effort was the ability of Mathias to attract, and in some cases, to train volunteer leadership.
His activities as a volunteer covered an equally broad range and a wide geographic area. He served his church, St. Paul Lutheran, as its chairman for two years and in other elected capacities for twenty-four years. He was an officer on the Texas Board of Governors of the Lutheran Laymans League.
Other civic activities saw him serving as President of the Rotary Club of Austin, the U.S.O. and as an officer or board member of the Austin Symphony, Boy Scouts of America, Austin Independent School District Advisory Board, Sales and Marketing Executives, Austin Personnel Association, Bicentennial Commission and Central Texas Regional Blood Center - where Mathias is a 21 gallon donor.
Also he was one of the organizers of the Discover Texas Association and served three years as Vice President of the Beautify Texas Council. He has conducted numerous seminars on organizing community events and festivals. His help is sought by groups and associations regarding organizational development and problem solving of all kinds.
At the National level, Mathias has served as Chairman of the Capitol City Executives and on the Board of American Chamber of Commerce Executives. He holds his profession's highest professional designation, Certified Chamber Executive (CCE).
In business, Mathias has been a principal in two different tour companies, the operation of a State Park (Longhorn Caverns) and is an investor in real estate and developer of business properties.
Vic and his wife, Helen, were married in Austin, Helen's home town. Their three children and spouses and four grandchildren all live in the Austin area.
Because of his wide range of professional, business and volunteer activities, Mathias is listed in Who's Who in America.
(excerpted from Volunteering for Fun and Profit by Vic Mathias)
