Matthew McDonell is the founder of Next 18, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the mental health of veterans and first responders through the game of golf. His story is one of personal growth and resilience and we are honored to have him as our Milwaukeean of the Week.
Next 18 has supported 300+ veterans and first responders from 37 states with some as young as 21 years old and others up to 77 years old. The 4-day camps are designed to provide a variety of resources and training, including golf camps, peer support communities, and holistic life resource training.
Our Q&A with Matt dives deep into his story and the challenges he’s overcome to get where he is: “Each chapter of my journey, from the struggles of my youth, to persevering through school, to the independence I gained in the military, to running a business has shaped me into who I am today.”
Are there any stories from your youth that define your path?
Looking back, the biggest thread in my story is how deeply I struggled with feeling unseen and unheard as a child. I grew up believing my needs didn’t matter. My parents weren’t emotionally present, and when I eventually discovered that the man I thought was my father was actually my stepfather, it only deepened my sense of disconnection. Those experiences left me carrying this belief that I had no self-worth, that who I was, or what I needed, didn’t count.
That lack of validation followed me into adulthood, shaping the way I saw myself and my place in the world. But in a strange way, it also lit a fire in me. It made me determined to find my own voice, and just as importantly, to make sure others don’t feel the kind of invisibility I once felt. My path has been about learning to reclaim worth where I once thought there was none, and using my story as a way to connect, to heal, and to create space for others to feel seen.
Where did you study (if you did higher education)?
I first studied Criminal Justice at Murray State University in Kentucky, because at a young age I thought I wanted to go into undercover narcotics work. After my military service, my direction shifted. I went back and completed my bachelor’s in Business Management, with minors in International Business and Marketing, and then went on to earn both an MBA and an MSW. I was able to use my military benefits to complete those graduate degrees, an amazing, often underutilized resource, which gave me the chance to combine business strategy with a social work perspective. That mix of experiences continues to shape how I approach challenges today.
Can you talk a little bit about your career journey? How’d you get to where you are now?
My career path has been anything but traditional. After high school, it took me six years to earn my associate’s degree, and at 26 I made the decision to join the military. I deployed overseas, and after being injured I was given the responsibility of transporting UAV parts and interpreters across Afghanistan. While I never traveled outside of military bases, I often found myself completely alone, sometimes the only soldier from my entire battalion on a base of 60,000 people. I had to secure both fixed- and rotor-wing transport, often working with civilian crews, and learned how to manage relationships with officers and contractors at every level. It was an incredible experience that taught me resourcefulness, tact, and how to operate independently in challenging environments.
When I returned home in 2015, I built a lawn and snow removal company from the ground up and ran it successfully until selling it in 2019. That experience gave me invaluable lessons in entrepreneurship, leadership, and persistence. From there, I transitioned into the nonprofit space, finished my bachelor’s in Business Management with minors in International Business and Marketing, and went on to complete both an MBA and an MSW using my military benefits, a resource I think is incredible but far too underutilized.
Each chapter of my journey, from the struggles of my youth, to persevering through school, to the independence I gained in the military, to running a business, has shaped me into who I am today. All of it led me to my current work with Next 18, where I get to blend business and social work to support veterans and first responders in ways that make them feel seen, heard, and valued.
What do you do for work now?
I currently serve as Founder/Executive Director at Next 18, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders through golf, wellness, and community. In my role, I help oversee programs, operations, and outreach, making sure our participants not only have access to the resources they need, but also feel connected, valued, and supported. It’s a position that allows me to blend my background in business and social work while staying true to my passion for building spaces where people can heal and grow. We focus on root causes of trauma. We are a PGA Tour Birdies for the Brave program and operate in 8 states currently.
What are some ways you have impacted the community in your line of work?
Through my work, I’ve been fortunate to create opportunities that directly impact veterans, first responders, and the community around them. At Next 18, I’ve helped design programs that combine golf, wellness, and peer support, giving participants a space to reconnect, heal, and build community. Seeing someone walk away from a program feeling lighter, more connected, or even hopeful for the first time in a long time, that’s the kind of impact that keeps me going.
Beyond Next 18, I’ve worked with the Milwaukee Honor Flight team to organize their inaugural gala, which raised over $240,000 in its very first year, money that directly supports sending our veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor. I’ve also led community efforts like providing meals, clothing, and even holiday experiences for homeless veterans in Milwaukee. Those initiatives not only met immediate needs but also showed people who often feel invisible that they are valued and not forgotten.
For me, the impact isn’t measured just in dollars raised or programs delivered, it’s in the moments where someone feels seen, supported, and reminded that their story matters.
The coolest part for me now, currently, is listening to the families and co-workers of Next 18 participants talk about the changes and growth that has happened to those attending the program, including 25+ MFD firefighters and a handful of MPD as well as Waukesha and surrounding areas.
What do you like about living in Milwaukee?
I live 7 minutes from Brown Deer Golf Course. Golf is my therapy and while it doesn’t hold PGA Tour events anymore, its still a great track for a county course. Further out…we are surrounded by some of the best golf in the country, all within 2 hours of here.
What do you want to see for Milwaukee’s future?
A more connected community at large. We’re all human. We all want to be seen, heard, and validated.