Who is Mat?
Who better to tell you than his wife, Jane Weisfeld
Who is Mat Weisfeld? His name showed up on facebook, linkedin, twitter, instagram, yahoo news, Patch, stereo phile manzagaze, forbes, youtube, bloomberg, cbs news and so on. You could catch him in 50 states, Japan, Canada, Germany, anywhere in the world. A quick google search shows his involvement with United Martial Artist in Hazlet, NJ; VPI Industries in Cliffwood, NJ, and accompanied with endless videos and pictures. But the question remains, who is he?
At a glance, Mat Weisfeld is the business owner for VPI Industries and United Martial Arts. He was a professor at Monmouth University and Brookdale Community College, as well as a technology teacher at Holmdel High School. He is one of the volunteers who taught ESL at Old Bridge library with his Grandmother. He is a loving grandson, caring son, amazing dad, and my fantastic husband. Everything he has been passionately involved in is always putting family and community in center.
Mat is currently the CEO of two family owned businesses. He took over his parents’ business - VPI Industries, after his mom Sheila Weisfeld passed away from Pancreatic cancer in 2011. Just like his mom, he is always engaged 110% in everything he does. His leadership in VPI helped bring the company to new heights, quickly expanding the company factory from 1500 sq ft to 5000 sq ft. He solidified relationships with the company’s dealers, both in the US and overseas. During the pandemic, Mat did everything to keep all of his workers employed and safe. He utilized his factory to start making hand sanitizers, face shields and intubation boxes, delivering them to first responders, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and those in need. As his wife, I was worried about him putting himself in danger, however, I also knew the community needed the support and my husband is always ready to help. If not him then who? I was worried for his own health, but I was unbelievably proud of the kindness in his heart!
In the middle of his efforts to support people, he learned that his old karate school was having trouble staying open. Mat stepped in and couldn’t let the school that did so much for him fall. He could not let the students down. Now he is the owner of the United Martial Arts Academy, introducing the karate school to new horizons. Mat has turned his school into a community center for all, now actively supporting Girl Scout Troops, Performing Arts, Dancing, Zumba, and endless events for strong causes. He always says it is not a Karate school, it is a united family.
Before he got involved with VPI, he was a teacher at Holmdel High School (nominated for Holmdel Teacher of the Year), an adjunct professor at Monmouth University and Brookdale Community College.Though he left teaching, he never forgot about his students. He opened up internship opportunities for the students. I had the chance to work with many of his students and heard lots of amazing stories about him. His students respected him and were impacted by him.
Mat graduated from Monmouth with a degree in History and Education with a Minor in Information Technology. Soon after, he completed his Masters Degree in Education from Monmouth University. I found one letter from his
college professor, WIlliam Reynolds, who wrote, ”Mathew has displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility, and ambition. He is definitely a leader rather than a follower. In addition to his excellent scholastic accomplishments, he has proven his leadership by teaching martial arts to children of various ages as well as tutoring adults at the university. I feel that he is also the most dependable team player. His good judgment and mature outlook ensure a logical and practical approach to his endeavors.” Professor Reynolds is a person of foresight, Mat is exactly what he wrote. I am always impressed with his attitude, passion, love of helping, and responsibility. He is a person that you know you can count on to be there for you, no matter what.
Before he got involved with VPI, he was a teacher at Holmdel High School (nominated for Holmdel Teacher of the Year), an adjunct professor at Monmouth University and Brookdale Community College.Though he left teaching, he never forgot about his students. He opened up internship opportunities for the students. I had the chance to work with many of his students and heard lots of amazing stories about him. His students respected him and were impacted by him.
Mat graduated from Monmouth with a degree in History and Education with a Minor in Information Technology. Soon after, he completed his Masters Degree in Education from Monmouth University. I found one letter from hiscollege professor, WIlliam Reynolds, who wrote, ”Mathew has displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility, and ambition. He is definitely a leader rather than a follower. In addition to his excellent scholastic accomplishments, he has proven his leadership by teaching martial arts to children of various ages as well as tutoring adults at the university. I feel that he is also the most dependable team player. His good judgment and mature outlook ensure a logical and practical approach to his endeavors.” Professor Reynolds is a person of foresight, Mat is exactly what he wrote. I am always impressed with his attitude, passion, love of helping, and responsibility. He is a person that you know you can count on to be there for you, no matter what.
Mat grew up and went through the Holmdel Education System. He loved this town so much that we are now here raising our family. Mat hopes to help make his home town a better place for our children too. You may wonder with everything going on in his life, how could he do more? Well, like what his mom used to say ”If you want things to get done, find the busy person!” Being on BOE was one of his dreams. When you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.
This is Mat! He is a great grandson. He took care of his grandma when she was confined to a bed. He is a great son, always showing the utmost respect to his dad and always ready to help him. He is not a boss, he is a great leader. He tries his best to help anyone in need. He is a great teacher and very patient. I'm always learning from him. He is a great father no matter how busy he is, Mat always has time for his children and loves sharing experiences and stories with them. He is a great Husband. He always finds a way to see and understand my point of view and is always in my corner :) He is great to the community. He is an honest guy, a positive person, a communicator, and a long-term thinker. I know Mat can do good things for our community on the BOE.
Mat Weisfeld is my husband who is running for this year’s Holmdel BOE with his team, Joanne Lam and Alicia Unusan. We now have two children. The reason for this campaign is to hope that our children will receive the best education in Holmdel. Having grown up here, educated here, and taught at Holmdel High, he has first-hand experience of the district's past glory and the challenges it faces now. He now manages several companies and is confident in his management abilities that he can help Holmdel improve teaching quality. He always says he does the best when I am around him. But I want to say, he does his best when people support him! I hope you all see what an amazing man my husband is and help him with your vote in this upcoming election!
