When Matthew Dickerson joined Mid South Extrusion (MSE) nearly two years ago, he stepped into a role that reaches every corner of the company. Today, as Chief Strategy Officer, he leads Sales, Human Resources, Compliance, and Safety—guiding teams, strengthening processes, and ensuring MSE delivers exceptional results for its customers.
His path to plastics wasn’t traditional. With a background spanning education, small business ownership, and executive leadership, Matthew found his way into the industry through longstanding relationships with the Anderson family and the MSE executive team. “When this position opened in 2024, everything aligned,” he says. “It was the right challenge at the right time.”
Education has played a consistent role in shaping his career. Matthew earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas, followed by a Master of Arts from the University of Louisiana Monroe, grounding his leadership approach in both strategy and people-focused problem-solving.
At its core, Mid South Extrusion is a blown film manufacturing company, supplying high-quality film products for furniture, bedding, carpet, specialty applications, packaging, and food packaging markets. Understanding the reach of these materials has changed how Matthew moves through the world. “I pay a lot more attention to plastics now,” he says. “I’ll walk through stores picking up packages I have no interest in buying—just to see how they’re made.”
Mentorship has been a major force in Matthew’s growth. Through the FLiP Mentorship Program, he’s been paired with John Erkert, CEO of Piovan Group, for the past six months. “John has been incredibly patient and open with his experience,” Matthew says. “His guidance has been exactly what I needed this year.” He also leans on the deep experience of MSE’s executive team, which he credits for accelerating his learning curve.
What Matthew enjoys most about the plastics industry is its sense of community. “For such a large industry, it feels remarkably close-knit,” he says. “People are willing to share their experiences—good and bad—which is invaluable for someone who came from outside the industry.”
He’s also attuned to the challenges facing plastics today, particularly workforce development. It’s an issue he spends significant time addressing both locally and at the state level. “We need policies that encourage individuals to participate in the labor market and support pathways for education and training,” he says. “PLASTICS has a powerful platform to drive that change.”
Matthew became a member of FLiP shortly after joining MSE and has since participated in several in-person and virtual meetings, fly-ins, and FLiP socials. What he found to stand out the most has been the knowledge and energy within the group. “These are truly the ‘Future Leaders in Plastics,’” he says. “My favorite part has been the mentorship program—it’s made a real impact.”
And the plastic product he can’t live without? His coffee pods. “It’s not flexible packaging,” he laughs. “But it’s absolutely critical for me every single day.”
Outside of work, Matthew is grounded by family and community. He and his wife, Kelsi, are parents to Hailey and Henry —and much of his time is spent cheering them on in various sports. His daughter has even taken up an interest in hunting and tags along whenever he goes. The Dickerson family is also deeply involved in their church community, serving in several roles. In recent years, Matthew has developed a passion for exercise and reading, two outlets that challenge both his mind and body.
As Matthew looks ahead, his focus remains on building strong teams, strengthening the next generation of leaders, and contributing to an industry that has welcomed him so fully. His journey may have taken a few unexpected turns, but it’s clear he’s exactly where he’s meant to be—helping shape the future of the company and community he’s proud to call home.
