Most folks raised in Washington wheat country live their entire lives without becoming seasoned world travelers. Matthew Warren, born and raised in Dayton, Wash., exemplifies the polar opposite of that.
Warren graduated from Dayton High School in 2014 and wasted no time in moving across the U.S. to Columbia, S.C. Since that time, Warren has lived in China and has visited over 20 foreign nations.
When Warren finished high school, he originally envisioned a career in agriculture commodities trading but soon decided that global supply chain management might offer him better opportunities for a successful career. Ironically, playing the saxophone turned out to be one of the deciding factors in choosing the university he would attend.
“I was offered a generous marching band scholarship at the University of South Carolina (USC),” recalled Warren. “They also had an excellent study program in global supply chain operations management. I was able to complete my B.S. degree in three years.”
Playing in the USC marching band at football games and other events required many hours of practice time, while Warren was carrying a heavy academic load at the same time.
“My grades suffered a little during football season, so I would make up for it during the rest of the year,” said Warren. “I will never forget my very first performance at a Southeastern Conference game. With over 80,000 fans in the stands, the noise was deafening. I was so nervous during the first halftime show, I didn’t play a note. It was all I could do to concentrate on executing all the elaborate steps, turns, and movements in unison with my bandmates. It was an experience I will never forget.”
Warren served as a wheat ambassador for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) during his senior year at Dayton High School.
“I had spent years of my youth riding in tractors and combines on my uncle’s wheat farm and also worked on our family fruit orchard, but my year as wheat ambassador really showed me the business side of farming,” he said. “I gained a much better understanding of the marketing and selling of the products grown from the soil. I learned about farm operations, financing, and how tax implications can affect agricultural businesses. Especially eye-opening to me was how much lobbying was necessary to help keep wheat farming and the entire agriculture industry profitable.”
During the summer of 2018, following graduation from USC, Warren worked for Lamb Weston as an intern. While performing his duties, he assisted with reducing a demurrage bill that would have cost millions of dollars.
Warren was resolute on finding a way to live and work in China. His employment at Lamb Weston helped to make that dream possible. He moved to the country without full time employment and was able to connect with a Lamb Weston colleague he had met on a previous business trip to China who referred him to work opportunities. Warren enrolled in Shanghai University and began studies while working part time teaching English to students. He eventually began working as an international buyer for a Chinese company.
Warren speaks Mandarin Chinese competently. He can read and understand written Chinese better. Because there are many different dialects in China, understanding the spoken word can be difficult. Warren thoroughly enjoyed his time in China. He spent considerable time in both Shanghai and Hong Kong. His experiences included living with roommates from Italy and Russia. He and some friends were featured in a television advertisement for a Polish pierogi restaurant. They were paid for their appearance in the commercial with Polish pierogis and vodka.
Warren has always loved hiking and experiencing nature. As a youth, he enjoyed skiing, hiking, and picking huckleberries in the Blue Mountains near Dayton. He reveres the hiking opportunities in China and considers Hong Kong one of his favorite places in the world.
“I believe Hong Kong is the only place on earth where you can be hiking in the middle of nowhere on well-developed mountain trails and then catch a bus for a 40-minute ride and enjoy dinner at a Michelin Star restaurant. It is truly unique.
“Many people have this conception of Communist China as a huge monolith that reaches down and controls everything with an iron fist,” said Warren. “The reality is, with a billion people to manage, they have more important things to do than to micromanage peoples’ lives. China is still a communist nation, but it has significantly advanced from the more restrictive atmosphere from several decades ago. I never felt uncomfortable dealing with government officials in China.
“My goal was to build a career in China working in agricultural product marketing. Unfortunately, the timing of my arrival turned out to be detrimental to the implementation of those goals. Massive trade tariffs were imposed on China by the U.S. and vice versa, which forced me to change my plans.”
Warren was working to complete a master’s degree at Shanghai University when COVID-19 hit. He was required to move back to the U.S. in January of 2020. He later completed an MBA degree from Eastern Washington University through an online program.
Back in the states, Warren found employment as an intern with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) in Pullman, Wash. He worked his way up to a procurement buyer position before leaving in 2022. The next move was to Wisconsin, where he was employed by a startup company that produced dry egg powder products. Unfortunately, the company failed and he was laid off. On a positive note, Warren met his future wife, Gabbi, while he was working in Wisconsin. They were married in 2025. She works as an emergency medicine pharmacist in Dallas where they now live.
Warren’s career path has been successful both by design and by fortunate circumstances.
“The way my career has progressed was planned, but I’d also have to say there was some happenstance involved,” he said. “Part of what makes a successful career is precise planning that puts you in the position of being able to take advantage of timely opportunities as they present themselves.
“For instance, serving as wheat ambassador for WAWG helped me develop my public speaking skills. Having the opportunity to experience lobbying with state legislators opened my eyes to how government works and helped me to realize how important it is for all farmers to get involved to help promote their industry.
“I recall being very impressed with how well-organized the WAWG team was in preparation for meeting with legislators. We went over the facts and talking points we wanted to hit with specific legislators. Often the messaging depended upon which side of the state a particular legislator was representing.
“Later, I used my time at SEL as a stepping-stone position. I learned as much as possible while employed there. That experience has paid some excellent dividends in my current work with Z2Data.”
Warren enjoys his work with Z2Data and cherishes being able to work from home. His company provides access to information on billions of products available from millions of companies worldwide.
Product packages offered by Z2Data might concentrate on supply chain risk management including financial, geopolitical, or cybersecurity issues. Knowing which companies are using proper environmental standards and are not using forced labor are other factors. Warren serves as the bridge between customers and his product development team that produces the databases needed by the companies they serve. Some notable Z2Data clients include Qualcomm, Teradyne, NetApp, and Palo Alto Networks. Most Z2Data clients are involved in industries that manufacture electronics, medical devices, automotive, aerospace, and defense products.
“One day might be quite different from the next day for me,” explained Warren. “I’ll be going over the regulations regarding a particular product. The next day I will be working directly with clients on building a digital database that suits their needs and provides actionable insights.
“Our software development team is located in Cairo, Egypt. I routinely work with them to put actionable changes and filters in place so our data products effectively produce the results that our client companies are looking for.”
Being happily married and ensconced in his career with Z2Data, Warren doubts that he would ever consider moving back to China again.
“It is an enjoyable, dynamic, and wild place to live, but at this point in my life, I don’t believe I’m missing out on anything by living here in Dallas,” said Warren. “That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t travel there for visits. My job is challenging and rewarding, and my wife and I have a great life right here in the U.S. At this stage of my life, I don’t think I’d move abroad again until retirement.”
