Prior to joining the District in 2022, Matt worked at Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District, first as seasonal catch basin technician and then as the Seasonal IT Assistant. There he learned the ins-and-outs of supporting mosquito operations and the technology pivotal to the success of the District.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from California State University, Sacramento.

Matthew's answers to a few questions about working with the District:

What is your favorite part of your job?

I love the variety; as the sole IT person on staff, I get the opportunity to work on all kinds of different tasks. Ranging from more routine tasks such as managing our network and devices, to unique tasks such as 3D printing. There’s always something new to learn that could potentially help the District and make our technicians’ lives a little bit easier. The skill expression that is afforded to me here is unlike any other job I have had, and it has been such an amazing opportunity to learn and grow.

What is a technology that people might be surprised the District has/uses?

Our staff use a niche GIS-based program to track locations in San Mateo County where mosquitoes could breed and grow. The program is available to our staff while they are in the field, as well as to our staff in the office taking calls and helping route requests.  In the field, our staff document the locations with standing water, when they last checked for mosquito larvae, when pesticide was last applied, which/how much pesticide was applied, and can make notes about that particular location. The pins of all the locations can be filtered and shown on a map, and the colors and symbols on the pins help staff know which locations have been checked recently and which are due to be checked soon. This is a long way from paper index cards with handwritten notes, which was the tracking method about 20 years ago.  The data has gone from paper to digital, and on digital, from a non-GIS-based program to a GIS-based program. I don’t think many people expect that we have as much data about mosquitoes growing throughout the County as we do!

Where is the most surprising place you ever found mosquito larvae?

Before joining San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District, I had also worked at another mosquito control district as a seasonal catch basin technician. One particular time that stands out to me was when I was inspecting a resident’s property and I found a PVC pipe in the corner of the yard. I think it was a backed-up drainage pipe or outlet of some sort, and it held water up to the brim. I had never seen so many larvae in such a small space before!

Our staff work throughout the entire County. What is your favorite spot in the County? And/or where is the best view in the County?

I have been living in San Mateo County for the last 3 years, and I feel like I still haven’t scratched the surface when it comes to exploring all the beautiful nature trails and hikes. That being said, I am partial to San Bruno Mountain, amazing view of the City as well as the Bay. A close second for me would probably be Mori Point or the Coastal Trail by the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay. There are so many great places, it’s difficult to pick just one!