The Alumni Association extends a big thank you to outgoing Alumni Council President Matthew Sullivan ‘88 P ‘21 ‘23 ‘26 for his years of leadership and service to Gulliver. During his four-year term as president, Matt guided us through a period of transition in our alumni program and spearheaded the remarkable growth we’ve seen in recent years as we expanded and strengthened our initiatives. Under his leadership, we revitalized the Alumni Council, reconnected with thousands of alumni through events and programs with our students, and fostered a more vibrant and engaged alumni community. He and his wife Cristina are longtime supporters of the Gulliver community with deep roots that span more than 40 years, including many family members who are also proud Raiders.
What have you been up to since graduating from Gulliver?
Busy living life in Miami. I’ve been married to my beautiful wife Cristina for 25 years and blessed to have 3 healthy children, all who went to Gulliver. Matty, 22, is graduating from SMU this year. Lucas, 20, just finished his sophomore year at Babson, and my daughter Mia, 17, is finishing her junior year at Gulliver. I’m also the current owner and president of Coastal Building Maintenance, a local, commercial janitorial and building maintenance company. In my free time, I enjoy boating, golf, pickleball and spending summers at our lake house in Vermont.
What inspired you to pursue your current career, and how has your path evolved along the way?
My career was inspired mostly by my father. He had started the business in Florida in 1973 when we moved here from New Jersey and the thought of continuing his legacy and being in business for myself was very appealing. Our company has evolved from a small mom and pop cleaning business to one of the largest, privately owned companies in the area. We were recently named a top 50 private employer in South Florida with over 1,000 employees and we just celebrated our 50th year in business. It truly takes a village and our employees are our greatest asset. I’m very proud of our team and the reputation we have established in the community.
Was there something you learned at Gulliver—inside or outside the classroom—that’s made an impact on your life?
Although I wasn’t the best student, Gulliver gave me a strong foundation and I really learned the value of teamwork and networking. The Gulliver community is so diverse and vibrant and you can’t help but be inspired by the students and families that attend and support the school.
Are there any Gulliver teachers or coaches you credit as having positively influenced you?
A few come to mind – Mrs. Fitzgerald who was the dean of students and always believed in me, when a lot of my teachers didn’t. Also, Mrs. Krutulis who was not only an educator, but a pioneer and innovator. She loved Gulliver and her students and had such a positive impact on so many. Lastly, Coach Dieppa who only coached me for one year of soccer but what an impact he made on us that season and then turning the Gulliver soccer program to the best in the state. It’s been fun watching my friend Scott Davidson coach the soccer team and continuing that legacy.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Gulliver?
Probably senior year pep rally. First we did a dance/skit to the song Mony Mony from Billy Idol. Shortly thereafter, me and a few teammates from the football team were blindfolded in front of the whole school and we had to guess which cheerleader was going to kiss us (which I was excited about). Little did we know that it was our moms that had kissed us! There is a video of it somewhere, but it was pretty funny and embarrassing at the same time.
What has been one of your proudest moments?
My proudest moment as a Gulliver alum would be getting inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 and having my whole family there. Only to have it topped as a parent watching my two sons graduate from Gulliver in 2021 and 2023 and my youngest daughter Mia just won the Duke book award given to the best scholar athlete in the junior class.
As a Gulliver alum, what advice would you give to current students?
The advice I would give Gulliver students would be to stay connected with your friends and classmates. Some of my best friends today are people who I met at Gulliver almost 40 years ago, and I actually do a lot of business in Miami with old classmates and alumni from the Gulliver community. You are part of a special community and these connections are important as you navigate through life and your professional career.
What clubs, sports, or extracurriculars were you involved in at Gulliver, and how did they influence you?
I was very active in athletics and played 3 sports (football, soccer and baseball) during my time at Gulliver. Some of my best memories in high school were made on the field and influenced me to continue playing football at Ithaca College, where we were 2-time national champions.
What’s something about you that most of your classmates might be surprised to learn?
People would be surprised to learn that I still have the newspaper delivered to my house and read it every morning with my coffee.
How do you stay connected with Gulliver alumni and the school community?
Gulliver is such a special place for our family. I’ve continued to stay connected with Gulliver since 1982 when I started there in 7th grade to when my kids started going there in 2014 and now my youngest will be graduating in 2026. I’ve seen firsthand how the school has evolved under Mrs. K’s ownership, becoming a non-profit school in the early 2000’s, to what it is today under Frank Steel and Simon Hess’ leadership. The facilities, curriculum, teachers and administrators are all first class and my kids have benefited immensely from their experience at Gulliver. I’ve stayed involved with the alumni council and Cristina and I are proud to support the Gulliver mission and will always take great pride in being a Raider!
