Bobbitt, Robert M.

Head shot of suited businessman (Rob Bobbit) smiling
Name: 
Bobbitt, Robert M.
Title: 
Global Catering & Event Planning
Texas A&M Class: 
1999
Inducted: 
2013

Biography:

Matt Bobbitt ‘99 attended Texas A&M University in the late 1990s, graduating with a B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Economics in 2000. While in college, Matt’s entrepreneurial interests and talents were evident, with one of his first jobs being as a bus boy for Creed Ford ‘75 at the Kona Ranch Steakhouse (now Ozona Bar and Grill) in College Station. Matt’s energy, enthusiasm, and work ethic propelled him to being General Manager of the restaurant by age 22, but his entrepreneurial spirit and self-admitted “out-of-the-box” style made him feel boxed in with the corporate world and he soon ventured out on his own.

Following several startup businesses (including restaurant ownership with Fajita Rita’s), Matt began a small side company, Global Catering & Event Planning. By January of 2004, Global was his sole focus, he had found his professional gig in life (cooking and event planning) and making the catering company work was imperative. With only his wife Cassie and one employee, Global did around $30,000 in sales that first year. Soon, Global Catering became Global Event Group and major projects were being awarded to the small company (still operating out of the Bobbitts’ home). The following two years, sales exploded hitting more than $250,000 and then $850,000. Word-of-mouth was the group’s only form of advertisement for years, and it was the reason the small town company was given the opportunity to bid a big city event, Austin City Limits Music Festival. In 2006, Global took on their biggest project to date. Ten days, 10,000 plus meals, and all produced in the middle of a park during a Music Festival! It was a feat, but Matt’s zeal for life and commitment to his clientele (and their clientele) led the team to success!

With 2006 also came the purchase of an actual business property and commercial kitchen, allowing the Bobbitts to separate work from their home (at least for a few hours each day). A small, 1,000 square-foot farmhouse off of Highway 21 became Global’s new home and housed an office, kitchen and storage barn for supplies. The following year, the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago hired the same little group to fly across the country to once again shine. 2007 also brought on additional projects, notable caterings, and much growth. Leading into 2008, the company knew growth would only continue, so they expanded their property to include a new 3,500 square foot building on the back lot. A state-of-the-art kitchen, additional offices, loading docks, and walk-in coolers and freezers helped to ease the growing pains as they entered well into two million dollars in sales.

To date, the company is nearing their tenth year in business, never to have declined in sales and continuing to add notable clients to their list. Three US Presidents; including the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, hundreds of Musicians; including The Eagles, U2, Beyonce and Willie Nelson, NASA, countless Texas A&M Departments and Boards, Dignitaries and the most recent addition of AVON Foundation’s Walk for Breast Cancer have all added to the thousands of clients for which Global produces. Global Event Group is the exclusive caterer for all events at the Association of Former Student’s Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center. Looking to 2013, the company is expecting to surpass $4 million in sales with their Event’s Venues, including The Historic Kyle House in downtown Bryan, five stand-alone delis, and a dozen major contracts across the United States, along with the addition of his newest project, Everybody Eats Food, a healthy food line that delivers healthy portioned meals to gyms, hospitals and homes.

Throughout Matt’s (and Cassie’s) entrepreneurial ventures, they have recognized the importance of “giving back” and they do so generously too many things, but particularly to the Department of Agricultural Economics and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. They are committed to providing their catering services to various student events and former student activities, frequently at below cost, to raise the stature of the Department, College, and students and to enhance the Aggie Network among current and former students and other professionals. Matt is a frequent speaker in Rural Entrepreneurship and other Texas A&M classes, intriguing the students with his vast real-world experiences while encouraging them to combine their talents, agricultural economics and agribusiness education, and quest for success into prosperous, enjoyable, professional careers. Matt’s service record also extends far beyond the University, with his (and Cassie’s) numerous community service commitments and roles in so many non-profit fundraisers, etc.

Matt and Cassie continue to reside in College Station, TX, with their two children, Jackson and Kate.

Click Below for Video Interview: 
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Transcript - Matt Bobbit Interview.pdf173.16 KB