Matthew Fleeger’s path to becoming a leader in the oil and gas industry began long before he took the reins of Gulf Coast Western, the company his father, Thomas H. Fleeger, founded in 1970. As a young boy, Matthew witnessed firsthand the dedication and hard work his father poured into establishing the company, which focused on acquiring and developing domestic oil and gas reserves in the resource-abundant Gulf Coast states.

After graduating from the prestigious Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, Matthew Fleeger joined Gulf Coast Western’s administrative team, eager to learn the family trade. He worked alongside his father for seven years, gaining invaluable insights into the industry and the company’s operations. However, the entrepreneurial spirit deep in the Fleeger family soon beckoned Matthew to explore new horizons.

In the early 1990s, Matthew Fleeger founded MedSolution, a medical waste management company he guided to remarkable success over the next decade. His keen eye for emerging trends also led him to acquire two startup tanning businesses, Palm Beach Tan and Mystic Tan, just as the industry began to boom. Under Fleeger’s leadership, these companies quickly became the most profitable franchises in their respective markets.

These diverse experiences beyond the scope of Gulf Coast Western provided Matthew Fleeger with a unique perspective and a sharpened ability to identify promising ventures. When his father retired in 2007, Fleeger was well-prepared to assume family business leadership, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a proven record of success.

Significant challenges marked Matthew Fleeger’s homecoming to Gulf Coast Western, as the oil and gas industry faced a period of instability and change. Undaunted, Fleeger embarked on a comprehensive company transformation, streamlining operations, embracing cutting-edge technologies, and adapting to the shifting global energy landscape.

Under Matthew Fleeger’s stewardship, Gulf Coast Western navigated these turbulent waters and emerged as a leader in the industry. The company’s reach and profitability soared, and its commitment to excellence earned it an A+ grade and a five-star rating from the Better Business Bureau. Clients lauded Fleeger’s leadership, noting that every joint venture was conducted with “engineering and fiscal rigor with an active risk management protocol.”

Today, Gulf Coast Western is a testament to Matthew Fleeger’s vision and leadership, with thriving operations spanning five states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Colorado. In the latter state, Fleeger made headlines for his savvy real estate investments, partnering with his wife, Candy, to transform a traditional stone home in Vail into a stunning \$32 million mountain estate.

Matthew Fleeger’s journey, from his early days learning the family business to his bold entrepreneurial ventures and triumphant return to Gulf Coast Western, is a story of hard work, innovation, and the courage to seize opportunities. His leadership has not only propelled Gulf Coast Western to new heights. Still, it has also cemented his reputation as a visionary in the oil and gas industry. As Fleeger continues to steer the company through the ever-changing energy landscape, his unwavering commitment to excellence and positive attitude inspire all those who aspire to make their mark in the business world. With Matthew Fleeger at the helm, Gulf Coast Western is poised to continue its legacy of success, adapting and thriving in the face of any challenge that lies ahead.