Matt Krinke
Matt Krinke, Controller, Olympic Steel, Minneapolis, MN
Turned an internship into a career. Leads with curiosity and a can-do attitude. Creates connection through Corporate Citizenship.
Matt Krinke’s career at Olympic Steel began in January 2011, when he joined the Company as an intern. After graduating, he accepted a full-time role and steadily advanced through the Accounting Department, from Accounting Associate to his current role, Controller. Celebrating 15 years with Olympic Steel, Matt sees his career progression as a reflection of the opportunities available to learn, grow and take on more responsibility.
Several moments stand out when Matt looks back on his career. In 2015, he completed the intensive Six Sigma Lean Black Belt program, a four-to-five-month experience that introduced him to new ways of approaching his work. He also earned an Fe Award of Excellence for his contributions during a sales tax audit, a process that unfolded over several months.
“Matt has a positive “can-do” attitude and is always willing to step in to support a goal, even if it’s out of the scope of his job responsibilities. He believes deeply in teamwork and the success of the team – helping other departments work through challenges to achieve success,” says Leah Kiley, General Manager at the Minneapolis location.
Some of Matt’s proudest experiences have happened outside his day-to-day accounting responsibilities. Through his involvement with his location’s Corporate Citizenship Committee, he has supported charitable efforts including Make-A-Wish fundraising, Feed My Starving Children meal packing, Salvation Army bell ringing, local food drives and Toys for Tots. He helps lead the annual Toys for Tots drive, soliciting donations and rallying coworkers around a goal of collecting 100 toys each year. In 2025, the team collected 180 toys and their efforts were featured on a local news station.
That community involvement is why Corporate Citizenship is the Core Value Matt identifies with most. The activities give him a chance to connect with coworkers he may not see in his usual role while supporting people in the community. Being involved in supporting the local community brings fresh energy and creativity to the workplace. As Matt puts it, “It’s fun to do something that’s not your normal job, and it’s nice to help the community.”
Matt credits Olympic Steel’s Internship Program with opening the door to his career. He has seen the program create similar opportunities for many others, giving both interns and the Company time to explore if the role, culture and industry are a good fit.
Mentorship has been equally important. Donna Feil, recently retired Regional Controller, encouraged Matt to ask tough questions, avoid complacency and continue growing in his career. That advice has shaped how he approaches challenges today. He starts by asking questions, using the resources around him and trying different solutions. When something does not work, he treats it as a lesson and makes sure the same mistake does not happen twice.
For Matt, the people are what make coming to work worthwhile. Working remotely during the pandemic reinforced how much he values face-to-face interaction, conversations in the office and the energy of collaborating with his coworkers.
Matt actively finds ways to be involved company-wide and locally. He is a member of the ONE OLYMPIC team, where he has spent the past three years helping with culture surveys, programs and processes that support the group’s mission to cultivate an inclusive workplace grounded in employee belonging and empowerment. Locally, he teaches a “Finance 101” class for new hires and coworkers, breaking down financial terms, phrases and numbers so managers can better understand the daily report.
His advice for employees who want to build a successful career is straightforward: “Always be willing to take on new challenges and new responsibilities.” Matt encourages people to express interest in unfamiliar areas, offer help when their own work is finished and look for opportunities to learn. He says, “That initiative is how employees show their drive, broaden their experience and open the door to what comes next.”
