The Power of Quiet Influence
By Michelle Vasquez | Photography by David Teran
Kevin Matula understands that having a seat at the table matters most when you use it to make a difference.
As Director of Government Relations at USAA, Matula moves between business, government, and civic life, building relationships with elected officials, advocating for San Antonio, and helping connect people and institutions around issues that affect the community. His approach is understated. He is less interested in being the person out front than in understanding what needs to happen, bringing people together and helping move an idea forward. “I think civic leadership is what I’m driven by,” Matula says. “I try to do a lot of listening.”
That instinct can be traced to Karnes City, the small South Texas town where he grew up. His grandfather worked in the county courthouse. His father owned a small business and served as president of the local Chamber of Commerce, bringing leaders such as John Sharp and Rick Perry to speak in their community and share perspectives. Teachers encouraged Matula’s interest in government, politics, and writing.
Those early influences gave him a glimpse of a larger world and, perhaps more importantly, showed him that people could bring that world closer to home. “Early on, my father showed me that being from a small place didn’t mean your voice mattered any less. Every community deserves to be seen, heard, and represented — and he showed me what it meant to bring the larger world home.”
Those lessons still shape how Matula approaches his work today. His philosophy begins with curiosity. He believes influence is earned by listening, understanding history, asking questions, and developing relationships before attempting to change minds. “If you want to make an impact, you need to be present; you have to be at the table. And then once there, it’s about being willing to learn and listen.”
That belief in quiet influence has become a personal leadership style. “I like being in a position to offer the quiet advice that helps lead to a bigger outcome. It’s not always about being the person out front with the idea — sometimes it’s about helping shape the idea before it gets there.”
It is an approach that has taken Matula a long way from Karnes City. At St. Mary’s University, he became involved in political campaigns and, at 19, landed an internship at the Texas Capitol. He later worked on Capitol Hill, took classes at Georgetown University, and returned to San Antonio to become legislative director for State Rep. Joe Farias.
That early experience launched a career in government relations that took Matula to Zachry Group, CPS Energy, and ultimately USAA, where his initial responsibility for local government relations expanded to include a Texas portfolio from both state and federal perspectives. His work has also led to leadership roles with the Greater San Antonio Chamber, including serving as public policy chair and chairing SA to DC and advocacy efforts in Austin.
Outside work, Matula has served on the United Way board, serves on the board of the San Pedro Playhouse, co-chaired the UTSA Arts Gala, and received the 2025 Outstanding Young San Antonian award from the Rotary Club of San Antonio. He lives downtown, enjoys the city’s arts, restaurants and neighborhoods, and values simply being present in the community he has chosen.
For Matula, staying in San Antonio has been a choice. He has found purpose in being part of the city where he has built his career, his relationships, and his community. “I find gratitude for being where my two feet are and finding ways to make our community better,” he says. “There’s a lot of goodness, but we have a lot of challenges.”
That is what makes Matula a guy to know. He knows what interests him, what he values, and how he can contribute. Rather than chasing the next place or the loudest platform, he is putting that knowledge to work right where his two feet are.
