How can I say thank you to Matt. A simple Thank You just won't cut it.

Learned a lot from him over the years. After the first time I met him and chatted for a bit, we were connected. Despite all the people he'd talk to talk and how the crowds would gather around him, he always remembered my name.

When I saw this group, I thought of two stories worth sharing.

This goes back at least 10 years, to a conference in Vegas and Google was sponsoring and networking event. Saw Matt on the way in, we exchanged pleasantries and I said just heading out for a few minutes we'll catch in a bit. I returned 15 minutes later and there was a crowd around Matt at least 3 or 4 people deep. All asking questions etc. Matt politely answered each of them

When someone working at the event asked who that was that had such a crowd (I assumed he thought it was some movie or music star), someone said Oh that's Matt from Google. The person then went and told other working at the event that it was Mr. Google and that's why such a big crowd.

The other story was just a few years ago at PubCon Vegas. After Matts morning Keynote, I was standing there talking with Joe Hall as Matt was making his way out of the hall (heading back to the hotel to be with his wife), he spotted Joe and came up to Joe and told Joe how much he liked his blog etc. Joe was taken back that Matt knew who he was. After about 30 and no more than 60 seconds Matt was on his way saying no more questions. He briefly turn around and saw me and shout, ""Oh sorry Alan didn't see standing there, enjoy the rest of the conference"":. Of course with Matt's implied endorsement, I was got a bunch of people coming up to me to figure who I was that Matt would give a shout-out to.

That is Matt, despite his celebrity status at these events, he always finds the time to talk to everyone and make everyone feel at ease.