tom matthesen

Tom Matthesen, President and Director of Thrive Farmers International, has always held an entrepreneurial spirit—starting his first business at the young age of 15. Throughout his career, he has founded, built and sold multiple companies as well as financed and advised development stage and mature growth companies in a wide range of industries. He has also held multiple executive positions with GE and other large corporations. His enterprising endeavors led him to be a founding board member of Thrive Farmers International at its inception and eventually to his role as President of the company, which he has held since 2016.  

Matthesen attributes his success to his God-given purpose of starting and running businesses, but not just any business, the business of impact. To Matthesen, business is a venue to steward. Every sale presents the opportunity to solve a problem or meet a need for the customer, and in the case of Thrive Farmers, empower the talented men and women who are responsible for growing world-class coffees, teas, honey and more—the farmers. With this humble perspective, Matthesen values servant leadership within his team and advises other professionals to “come into work every day with the notion that every encounter is an opportunity to make an impact on someone’s life.”

Matthesen measures his personal success not on short-term financial gain but instead on impact, purpose and legacy. He said, “I love building and growing companies and I seek to engage both personally and professionally in organizations that have long-range economic, spiritual and social impact.”

A diligent community leader and strong believer in preparing the next generation, Matthesen serves on the Association for Corporate Growth Atlanta Board and Board of Advisors for one of the leading business schools in the U.S., J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. He is an active member of Vistage. Additionally, Matthesen participates in many nonprofit initiatives and served as the Chairman of a large private school in Atlanta.

Matthesen holds a Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Business Administration from Georgia State University. He is Six Sigma Certified.