Citizens of Ocilla have gotten to know Mayor Matt Seale as a driven and dedicated leader. He hit the ground running after being elected Ocilla's Mayor in September 2015. In a short time, he has created efficiencies in local government that have allowed the City of Ocilla to grow stronger financially, resulting in decreased debt. His business experience helps him to run Ocilla's utility services more like a business benefitting the City for years to come. His focus on collaboration led to the creation of a position for a School Resource Officer, an Ocilla City Police Officer dedicated to our school campuses and the safety of our young people. He has led the City of Ocilla in making small but meaningful improvements and will continue to make improvements in our infrastructure, economy, and community properties as we move forward. Let's continue to Choose Ocilla. Let's re-elect Mayor Matt Seale and keep the progress going!
Many people know Matt Seale as our Mayor and as the owner, along with his wife Roxie, of the Shoppes at Fourth & Cherry in downtown Ocilla. Here are some things you might not have known about our Mayor.
Education
After graduating with Honors from Liberty County High School, Matt Seale attended Georgia Tech, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Science, Technology and Culture, and minoring in Music. His degree program was broad-based, giving him experience in the areas of science and technology, engineering, computer programming and economics, as well as music, English literature and philosophy. This wide array of subjects and the environment at Georgia Tech has made him an analytical thinker and a problem solver.
Many people know Matt Seale as our Mayor and as the owner, along with his wife Roxie, of the Shoppes at Fourth & Cherry in downtown Ocilla. Here are some things you might not have known about our Mayor.
Education
After graduating with Honors from Liberty County High School, Matt Seale attended Georgia Tech, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Science, Technology and Culture, and minoring in Music. His degree program was broad-based, giving him experience in the areas of science and technology, engineering, computer programming and economics, as well as music, English literature and philosophy. This wide array of subjects and the environment at Georgia Tech has made him an analytical thinker and a problem solver.
Businessman and Entrepreneur
Matt has been a financial advisor since 2001 and started his own private financial firm in 2003, Proventus Financial Group. In 2014, he started Proventus Mortgage Company, which provides residential mortgage services. Proventus Financial Group handles several local retirement plans, including Irwin County Schools and South Central Primary Care.
Matt has been a financial advisor since 2001 and started his own private financial firm in 2003, Proventus Financial Group. In 2014, he started Proventus Mortgage Company, which provides residential mortgage services. Proventus Financial Group handles several local retirement plans, including Irwin County Schools and South Central Primary Care.
Matt has now established an official registered office of Proventus Financial Group in Ocilla, GA. This is another step in a long term plan to grow a professional business in Ocilla, to create higher-paying jobs, and to provide opportunities for Irwin County High School graduates to return home after obtaining college degrees to careers that match their objectives in the community that they love.
Community Involvement
Matt has written a column in the Ocilla Star called irwinomics, since 2008. More recently, he has turned irwinomics into a marketing firm, focused on economic development in small communities and the businesses that keep them going, very particularly Ocilla and Irwin County.
Matt has been a driving force in the coordination of community events such as First Friday on Fourth Street in downtown Ocilla, GA since 2009. Through his business, The Shoppes at Fourth & Cherry, he has spear-headed the now well-known downtown events of Christmas Open House and Ladies’ Night Out. His efforts have encouraged downtown businesses to work together in a spirit of community rather than competition and to foster environments for the community to gather together.
Military Service
After the horrors of September 11, 2001 Matt felt compelled by patriotic duty to make himself available to his country, if his service was required. He joined the United States Naval Reserve in 2002 and became an Intelligence Specialist. He was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007-2008 and was awarded a Joint Service Commendation Medal at the end of his tour. Since then, Matt has been on military orders around the world. He still serves today and was recently promoted to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer, the second highest enlisted rank in the Navy.