John R. Matthews has served in many capacities over the years: pastor, minister of education, chaplain resident, instructor of philosophy and logic, and adjunct faculty for a field practicum program. However, J. Matthews, as he has been known professionally, made his principal career at Midwest Career Development Service, which eventually became Midwest Ministry Development Service. Beginning as a counselor in 1970, he later became the Associate Director of the Columbus office and worked in that capacity until his retirement in October 2008. Since 2009, he has continued to work with Midwest in various adjunct roles. He has received several professional certifications: Ordained Elder in the West Ohio Conference the United Methodist Church, Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Ohio, and professional membership in the American Counseling Association and the Association for Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling. As evidence of his noteworthy professional reputation, in 1984 he was appointed by the Governor of Ohio to serve on the state's first Counselor and Social Worker Licensing Board.