Like a lot of kids, Matt Keplinger took an interest in fireworks at a young age. But unlike the other kids, Matt’s passion for pyro quickly outgrew the likes of firecrackers and roman candles. By the age of 14, he was putting on professional level fireworks displays for his neighborhood. Eventually, he’d start scripting and adding soundtracks to his productions and using fireworks simulation software and wireless remote systems to execute top tier productions.
This passion has stuck with him his entire life. Today, Matt is part of a team that coordinates around six major shows per year. His team has set up shows for holiday celebrations, weddings, gender reveal parties, and other festivities. They’ve even been hired for memorial shell shoots which incorporates the scattering of a loved one’s ashes into the fireworks display.
As expected, however, Matt’s busiest stretch is the days leading up to the Fourth of July (or “Hell Week” as it’s known in the pyrotechnics world).
Matt’s team has traveled the country for special events and fireworks festivals. He was even part of a team that took top honors at last year’s Sky Wars competition in Wright City, Missouri. And his neighborhood can always count on Matt to provide an incredible display from his own backyard every Fourth of July–a spectacle that takes him about three months to set up.
“What I like most about fireworks is the joy it brings to people and gives them a few minutes where they can forget everything else in the world and immerse themselves in the sights and sounds coming alive in the sky,” he said.
A West Virginia native, Matt has been with Dot Foods Williamsport for more than 25 years including 17 as a warehouse trainer. In his position, he estimates he’s trained “somewhere between 200 and a billion people” on what it takes to make it as a warehouse worker at Dot. He’s committed to building strong working relationships with each person he takes under his wing and works hard to support his team.
“I told myself I will never ever have someone quit because of me,” he said. “I would like them to stay because of me.”