Matthew Cochrane-Logan

1. Red or Blue, which were you?

Red team of course!!! After all, I have never seen a blue Scorpion!!!

2. What is your job title at Wells Fargo, what does that role encompass and how long have you worked there?

I am Assistant Vice President at Wells Fargo Insurance Services here in Charleston. In March of this year, I will have been with the company for 7 years. I work with commercial clients who need guidancein placing all types of commercial insurance coverage (better known as Property & Casualty coverage). From historic property coverage to addressing maritime exposure to placing professional liabilitycoverage for doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers & technology companies, I am constantly learning new aspects of a wide range of different industries.

3. What is your favorite part of working at Wells Fargo?

I find that sharing in the successes of my clients as well as being there for my clients after experiencing an insurance claim are probably the most rewarding aspects of what I do. I am constantly humbled when a client treats me as an extension of their organization.

4. How did you become interested in insurance?

Interestingly, it is a connection with a former CDS classmate’s father that brought me into the commercial insurance profession. After several years in hotel management, I decided that I wanted to travel less & be in Charleston more so I met with this former CDS parent. He offered to take me with him on several client meetings to see if the commercial insurance industry resonated with me from a professional standpoint. The rest, as they say, is history.

5. How did CDS prepare you for your career?

I think that the concept of building on existing relationships in my personal life has kept me more in tune with fostering relationships in my business life. The heart of the CDS community has always been built on maintaining strong relationships and I think that core value instilled in me at CDS has taught me so much professionally as to how my clients should be treated.

6. Where did you attend high school and college after you graduated from CDS? Were there any interesting turns or jobs along the way?

I graduated from Porter-Gaud School in 1997 and then graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 2001. During the summer of 2000, I studied at St. Anne’s College at the University of Oxford in England and it truly was an experience of a lifetime.

7. What was your first job ever?

My first job ever was as a camp counselor at Concord Academy Summer Camp in Concord, MA. I spent my summers at this camp for sixteen years and was a counselor there for six of those years. It was always a nice escape from the summer heat in Charleston!!

8. Which CDS campus did you attend?

I attended the Archdale Street campus and remember those days very fondly.

9. What is your favorite CDS memory or teacher?

My favorite memory of CDS is walking with my mother to my mid-year admission interview at the school so thanks for accepting me, Mr. Jaycocks!!!

10. What do you do outside of work? (hobbies, interests, boards, community service)

I currently serve on the Porter-Gaud Alumni Association board and am Vice President of the Independent Agents & Brokers of Greater Charleston Association. I serve on the Drayton Hall Site Council Advisory bBard and consider this role to be a direct result of my days as a Junior Docent in Mrs. Donna Croft’s 6th grade CDS class. In addition, I am in charge of a scholarship at Hampden-Sydney College (HSC) as well as coordinate the local alumni association for HSC.

11. Tell us about the Carolyn Cochrane Scholarship fund that you set up at CDS? (maybe why you decided to invest in CDS)

I created the Dr. Carolyn E. Cochrane Memorial Scholarship in 2008 after my mother unexpectedly passed away in 2006. It was simply a way of honoring my mother during a very difficult time in my life. I know that she was always grateful for how we were welcomed with open arms into the CDS community so for me the decision to invest in CDS in her memory truly was a perfect fit.

12. What is your long term vision for the Carolyn Cochrane Scholarship fund?

I am hopeful that the scholarship will eventually be fully endowed and will simply be an annuity for future CDS students to help offset the rising costs of a local, private school education. Also, since the scholarship is given at the Headmaster’s discretion, I am hopeful that it will adapt to meet any need, whether financial or merit based in scope, in an effort to perpetually reinforce the overall CDS experience.

Bonus Question:

* If you had a chance for a one year radical sabbatical what would you do and where would you go?

As a life-long student of the game of baseball, I think that it would be an incredible experience for one year to be a General Manager of a Triple A Minor League baseball team. Being able to tell a player that he is going to play major league baseball on a consistent basis has to be an extremely fulfilling livelihood.

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