Ann Arbor, MI (August 18, 2021) - Matt VanHaaren, the CEO of EOTECH, is a very smart and accomplished man. He has managed and developed several technology businesses throughout his career. But Matt isn’t perfect. On the outside is a confident, outgoing personality but on the inside, Matt is a scaredy-cat. Matt is terrified of spiders, clowns and most of all heights. His fear of heights all started with the Great Parking Lot Fall of 1984 where Matt was doing his best Mary Lou Retton balance beam routine on a parking lot curb. During his dismount, Matt fell all 7 inches to the ground suffering major injuries including a knee scrape and bad case of gravel hands. This event changed Matt forever. From then on, Matt avoided parking curbs and large rocks for fear of another fall from the sky. He threw away his moon boots because the soles raised his head into the heavens. He even sold his Chevy Blazer for a Pontiac Sunbird to avoid such a high fall in case he exited the vehicle poorly.
But Matt is a fighter. He slowly tried to overcome this fear with different challenges. First a step ladder. Next, he successfully sat on the tailgate of a small framed truck. He even got to the point where his barber could pump up the chair a bit. But soon Matt will face his greatest challenge ever.
Easterseals of Michigan is an organization Matt has supported for years. They help individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives. Close
