Joe Matthews: A Clear Trajectory
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
CONCORD — Many young people have trouble deciding which career path to pursue, but for Joe Matthews, it was a clear choice. “My father and grandfather were both in the glass business, so I basically followed the family line,” he explains. “As a kid, I would work at the family glass shop after school and during the summer, and later I got into it full time. We handled all aspects of glass fabrication, but the area I enjoyed most was shower doors, which tended to involve more creativity than, say, replacing a broken window. Eventually, I decided I wanted to do shower doors exclusively, and things have progressed from there.”
Today, as general manager of Schicker Luxury Shower Doors, Inc., Joe says his favorite part of his job is his interactions with colleagues and customers alike. “In addition to working alongside our team, I enjoy working with homeowners, designers, architects and contractors. It’s fun and rewarding to collaborate on a design, come up with solutions, and see the project through to completion.”
A resident of Vallejo (where he lives with his wife, Camille), Joe enjoys being situated amidst the diverse Bay Area setting. “We have so much in the Bay Area—any direction you go, there’s something of interest,” he says. “My wife and I like going on little jaunts around the area, whether to the coast, the forest, the wine country or a nearby town to try a new restaurant.” Joe also likes spending time at his mountain cabin, working in his garden, and hanging out with his and Camille’s three grown sons.
In his life and career, Joe espouses the virtue of doing right by others. “I believe karma is a real thing, which is why I always try to treat people the way I’d like to be treated,” he says. “Whenever you’re faced with a decision, whether in your personal life or professional career, I believe it’s important to do the right thing.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Joe says he’d return to an old hobby. “I’d go fishing. I used to fish a lot, but it’s been on the back burner for a long time, so the first thing I’d do is grab a pole and head to a nearby stream.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Did you play any sports in high school?
A: I played football and pole-vaulted.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Find a nice restaurant and order a bowl of hot soup.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Palermos in Vallejo.
Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
A: A dog person.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: The Polynesian Islands.
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