Matthew A. Dotson

Curious Reformer. Considerate Pathfinder. Quirky Creator.

Matthew A. Dotson

AI & Automation · Medical Simulation · Manufacturing Ops

I think best where disciplines stop respecting each other's boundaries. Logic builds the frame, creativity decides what goes inside it, and somewhere in that negotiation is where the most interesting things get made.

My career hasn't followed a straight line so much as it adapted around a single recurring thought: I wonder if...

That's what pulled me through over a decade of medical simulation R&D, onto a manufacturing floor in Ohio, and into building AI powered tools on my own time. The curiosity leads. The career follows.

I approach problems the way a field ecologist would: understand the system before you disturb it, trace how things connect, then act with some intention. The solution to what's in front of you often already exists somewhere else, in another field, another discipline, another context entirely. You just have to be fluent enough in multiple languages to recognize it. That's where I close gaps, not by having every answer, but by knowing where to look for them.

With any significant thing I encounter like a process, person, or anything in the natural world, I often try to leave it better than I found it. I think of it as planting seeds along the way and I always want my garden to thrive.

12+
Years in R&D & Product Design
1
Registered U.S. Patent
Live
Induction App — under VP review at THK Mfg.
27
Engineers trained on-site in China — OEM launch
Software
Expertise
Claude
Expert

Claude is the AI sidekick you want to have around to really get things accomplished. It's a more reliable creative assistant with whom you can bounce ideas off and complete tasks. It's helped me design apps and websites in addition to offering thoughtful perspectives I may have missed otherwise. I appreciate Anthropic as a company and how they are going about their mission.

Personal ProjectTHK
ChatGPT
Advanced

I've been using ChatGPT for almost two years, almost every day for the last year. From providing summaries to brainstorming partner, it's integral to my workflows. I've found that utilizing different AI for different purposes that match their strengths is important.

THKPersonal ProjectBlend for Them
OpenClaw
Intermediate

One of the more exciting tools I've come across recently. An open-source personal AI agent that runs on your own hardware and connects to LLMs like Claude across platforms. I'm currently setting it up on a Hostinger VPS — still finding my footing, but the potential is immediately obvious.

Personal Project
Airtable
Proficient

Airtable is humbling. It's capable of so many things — database, forms, etc. I feel like it'll continue to evolve faster than I can master it. It's a key tool I plan on continuing to utilize indefinitely.

Personal ProjectTHK
Make
Proficient

If Zapier could be considered Boy Wonder for its capabilities, then Make would probably be Batman. They both provide similar tools, but Make gets stuff done with the heavy lifting. It's my favorite for automations.

Notion
Proficient

Notion is my second brain. I use it to organize everything from project tracking to skills documentation. The flexibility to build custom databases and views makes it indispensable for how I work.

Personal ProjectTHK
Zapier
Proficient

Zapier is the Boy Wonder to Make's Batman — more integrations, easier to set up, great for simpler automations. I use it when I need something running quickly without heavy configuration.

Firebase
Intermediate

Firebase has been part of my toolkit for backend needs on personal projects. Authentication, Firestore, and hosting have all been useful as I've built out web-based tools.

Personal Project
HTML / CSS / JS
Proficient

I came to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript through necessity rather than formal training — building and modifying my own site pushed me into the code whether I was ready or not. I can read it, troubleshoot it, modify it, and collaborate with AI tools to write it.

Personal Project
Systems Thinking Expert

I don't see problems in isolation — I see them as parts of a larger system. Whether it's a production floor, a product development pipeline, or a personal workflow, I naturally map how things connect before I intervene.

Prompt Engineering Advanced

Getting useful output from AI models is a skill most people underestimate. I've developed an intuition for how to frame problems, provide context, set constraints, and iterate — across Claude, ChatGPT, and other models.

AI Workflow Design Advanced

Building workflows that incorporate AI isn't just about plugging in tools — it's about knowing where AI adds genuine value, where it introduces risk, and how to design around both.

Project Management Advanced

I've managed projects across medical simulation, real estate renovations, manufacturing, and creative production. My approach is equal parts structure and adaptability.

Rapid Prototyping Advanced

My instinct is always to build something tangible as fast as possible. I've learned that a working prototype, even an imperfect one, moves a conversation forward faster than any proposal document.

Cross-functional Communication Advanced

I've spent my career translating between worlds — engineers and executives, designers and manufacturers, technical teams and end users. Training 27 engineers on-site in China during an OEM launch is probably the most concentrated example.

Problem Solving Expert

I've always been drawn to problems others walk past. Whether it's a broken workflow, an inefficient process, or a product that doesn't quite do what it should — I instinctively start mapping the system and looking for the intervention point.

Team Management Advanced

I excel at coordinating team efforts, fostering open communication, and leading with empathy. I've led cross-functional teams across multiple industries and time zones.