Cindy Matthews probably wouldn’t have wanted a fuss. What she did want, though, was to care for everyone and everything, right down to the smallest detail. Fittingly, her unparalleled professionalism and dedication to one of the organizations she served as executive director manifested in the “Golden Glue Award,” gilded Elmer’s bottle and all, which she proudly hung on her office wall.
Organization Management Group (OMG) mourns the loss of
colleague, executive director, friend and unofficial “office mom” Cindy
Matthews, who passed on July 23. Cindy spent more than half of her 35-year
career in association management with OMG, retiring in 2022.
Before joining OMG, Cindy served as special events coordinator with the
Tidewater Builders Association (now the Coastal Virginia Building Industry
Association) for 17 years, during which time she organized
awards events, trade shows, meetings, seminars and special projects. Upon
joining OMG as an executive director in 2002, her skills translated easily to
the mortgage and real estate industries and dental hygiene field, soon making
her the “go-to” expert for the Tidewater Mortgage Bankers Association,
Institute for Real Estate Management Hampton Roads Chapter and Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association,
among others. Her skill in securing event sponsorships from affiliate companies
was legend.
Through it all, Cindy maintained a “get-it-done” momentum, extending that care to behind the scenes at OMG. From voluntarily decorating coworkers’ offices on the eves of their birthdays to making sure busy colleagues had eaten lunch (and appearing with food if they hadn’t), Cindy took seriously her role as unofficial office mom.
Naturally, the pride and fierce devotion to her roles as wife, mother and grandmother were evident. One of Cindy’s favorite sayings (with a wink and a smile) was that, as husband Bob’s wife of 49 years and a veteran of countless military moves, she had earned her “MRS degree.” So strong was her love of being a grandmother that she declared on her company bio that time spent with her grandchildren was a top priority: “If I had known grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first!”
Cindy also enjoyed an exceptional love of Christmas, frequently playing Christmas music year-round in her office and decorating her office tree before Thanksgiving. On her social media, she’d count down to Christmas, week by week, starting in the summer.
Colleagues remember Cindy for her kindness and welcome-wagon approach to new OMGers.
Said Deana Wilson, GRI, Senior Vice President of Education,
“She was the first one to welcome me to OMG and made me feel like I belonged. I
have never forgotten. She
was funny and untethered, which I loved.”
Member Support Specialist Denise Barnes echoed that sentiment: “The first day I
started working at OMG as a temp, back in June of 2018, Deana had not had the
opportunity to introduce me to anyone in the building. Cindy saw me and
introduced herself. I told her my name and that I was the new temp. She hugged
me and welcomed me to the office with her big, beautiful smile. This was my
first experience with Cindy. From Day One, she always made me feel welcomed and
comfortable. She knew when I was having a hard day and was quick to come grab
me, literally, give me a hug and say, “It’s going to be alright.’”
Ever the stalwart shoulder and listening ear, Cindy
embraced compassion with equal measures of helpfulness and humor.
“Cindy was the person who you could always count on for helping whenever
it was needed. She was a strong supporter of OMG and her clients. Cindy was
passionate about everything she did. We were left with a tremendous hole the
day she retired. Personally, I have missed Cindy and her straightforward
approach to life…and her ability to get the staff to clean the refrigerator!”
remembered Gail Phillips, CAE, Senior Vice President of Senior Vice President of Association Management &
Client Care.Noted
Senior Vice President of Conferences & Conventions Rosie Bugarin, CMP, “Cindy
had incredible energy and cared about working with her volunteers. I
loved her forthright and larger-than-life personality. But her softer,
deeply caring part of Cindy is what I will always treasure about her.”
President J. Michael
Reitelbach, CAE RCE IOM, shared the sentiments felt by fellow OMGers and
association members upon learning of Cindy’s passing: “Her enthusiasm and her laugh! Not to mention her
story telling. I miss them.”
OMG extends its most sincere condolences to Cindy’s family and friends in this
most difficult time. Information about services will be shared once available.