Matt Johnson
for Reno

My family moved to Reno in 1989 and I have called this city my home since that time. Starting in 6th grade I attended public school here and later received a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Nevada, Reno. I left Reno briefly to attend graduate school in Montana and returned shortly after receiving my M.S. in Environmental Studies. Shortly after returning from graduate school, I was lucky enough to marry the love of my life, Leigh Metcalfe, in 2006. 

 

In high school I was inspired by a teacher to knock doors to educate community members about the proposed nuclear waste dump that was being pushed on our state. As a college student I served as an AmeriCorps member with the Nevada Conservation Corps and later went on to become the Director of that program here in Reno. Civic engagement was an early part of my life and I was lucky to find a career in that field working with and for community service-focused organizations for much of my adult life. After major changes at AmeriCorps that moved my position to another state I focused my efforts full-time on the brewery I had started a few years earlier. 

 

My professional experience working in government, running my own business, supporting service focused organizations, and managing people makes me uniquely qualified to represent Reno's Ward 2. I have a track record of building coalitions and getting things done. Reno needs leaders who are transparent, not beholden to lobbyists, and who want to ensure everyone can thrive in this community. I am ready to represent Ward 2 on the Reno City Council.

Reno is my place. Service is my story. 

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GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT SERVICE

I have worked with and for community service-focused organizations and government agencies for more than 20 years in a variety of leadership roles. Much of this work entailed ensuring public tax-payer funds were spent appropriately and effectively. I oversaw many millions of dollars in grant funding and have extensive experience with regulation compliance and budget management including:

• Served in several roles with the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency focused on domestic community  service that is now simply known as AmeriCorps. I served for 8 years including as State Director for 5 years. I also served as Acting Director for the states of Washington, California, and Alaska. 

• Served as the Program Officer for Nevada Volunteers - the Governor's Commission on Service. 

• Served as the Director of the Nevada Conservation Corps and helped it grow into the largest AmeriCorps program in the state including managing hundreds of AmeriCorps members and staff. I was proud to develop their first leadership development program for AmeriCorps members that was eventually expanded to other programs statewide. 

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BUSINESS EXPERIENCE 

I am the co-founder of IMBĪB Custom Brews, an award-winning brewery which operated in Reno and Sparks for 10 years. During our time in business I helped build a strong organization with loyal employees and customers and we are proud to have won more than 25 medals in national and international beer competitions. We donated to many causes as a business including supporting organizations such as the Girl Scouts, The Discovery, The Nevada Museum of Art, and many more. We built our business from the ground up and fought to overcome many challenges including keeping both of our locations open through the pandemic. We closed the business in 2025 after seeing the market change dramatically and now I am ready for a new challenge. My accomplishments include:

• Serving as President of the Nevada Craft Brewers Association from 2017-2021.

• Founding and leading the Washoe County Bar & Taproom Coalition that successfully worked with Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County to convince the Governor to allow us re-open safely during the pandemic. 

• Winning the Level Up! Growth Competition for Small Businesses in 2018.​

• Graduating from the Small Business Administration's T.H.R.I.V.E Emerging Leaders Program in 2022.​

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SERVICE AND RECOGNITION 

• Board Member, Great Basin Community Food Cooperative (2015-2016)

• Board Member, City of Reno Ward 1 Neighborhood Advisory Board (2013-2014)

• Secretary, University Toastmasters (2012-2013)

• Youth Leadership Specialist, Leadership Reno-Sparks Planning Committee (2012-2014)

• Board Member, Nevada EcoNet (2011-2012)

• Graduate of the Small Business Administration’s T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Program (2022)

• Graduate of The Chamber’s Leadership Reno-Sparks Program (2011)

• AmeriCorps Program Director of the Year (2008)