PLC Spotlight on Darin Matthews

Darin Matthews is the Director of Slug Procurement (as he affectionately refers to it) and has been in his position for almost a year.

Where were you prior to this position? I was with Portland State University, where I was the Procurement Director and a Supply Chain faculty member. After working in Portland for 20 years, I figured it was time to move to the beach.

What made you get into Procurement or Supply Chain Management as a career? I took my first role as temporary fleet parts buyer so I could get away from picking up road kill. After 25 years, I'm still at it. My maintenance supervisor, Mr. Hubbard, helped me get the position, which I am extremely grateful for.

What do you like most about being a part of the Procurement team at your campus? Well, I inherited a great team here at UCSC. We face something different every day and do our best to make a difference. Everyone brings their own experience and expertise to the table and we always manage to get the job done.

Describe a moment that made you proud to be a part of the PLC or is there an interesting story you can share about being on the PLC? The PLC is a great group that I'm proud to be a part of. This collaborative structure is different than the environment I came from. At one of my early meetings, I shared about the LGBT-BE certification program offered through the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Some professional colleagues I share this with are not necessarily ready for it, but my PLC colleagues showed interest immediately. Several inquired about the certification and requested additional information. I remember thinking "I can hang with these people".

What do you see as the biggest challenge for UC Procurement right now and what do we need to do collectively as a group to overcome this hurdle? I'm convinced that our biggest challenge is doing what is best for the whole (Supply Chain 500 for example), while ensuring our own campus needs are met. That is not an easy balance, whether you’re Santa Cruz or Los Angeles. We may not always agree, but we continue to work together and do the right things for the right reasons.

What do you think is one of the misconceptions of the PLC? That we are this elite group of supply chain gurus. Don't get me wrong, the expertise on the PLC is impressive, but each of us is successful because of our "bench strength". Our procurement team members are really who make it all happen, and I think we all realize that. We surround ourselves with talented professionals and often get the credit for their excellent work. Not a bad deal!

Where do you get inspiration? What makes you excited and motivated in your work/life? My inspiration comes from the current and future generations of supply chain professionals. When I look at the talent within the UC supply chain ranks, as well as the college students I teach, I see our future as very promising. Many of them are choosing supply chain as a profession and not landing here by accident. This is a very exciting time to be a supply chain manager.

What do you like to do in your spare time? I enjoy riding motorcycles with my partner. We also enjoy hiking and listening to music…sometimes in the same day.

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself that most people wouldn’t know about? I have done a lot of research on the JFK assassination (my kids think I’m obsessed). In fact, the picture here was taken at the grassy knoll in Dallas. While I have my own theory on what happened in 1963, I try not to annoy people with it.