Word Press Custom Meta Drop Box

<?php
// Meta is saving correctly but cannot figure out how to get saved meta chosen as selected

// Contributors Circle Meta Box Layout
function contributors_circle_meta_box( $object, $box ) {

// $get_categories pulls all regular post categories
$get_categories = get_terms('category');

// $my_query pulls all current employee names (employees are in as a custom post employees)
$my_query = new WP_Query('post_type=employees');


$published_contributors = new WP_Query( array ( 'orderby' => 'date', 'order' => 'DESC', 'post_type' => 'contributors_circle' ) );
$selected='';

// this foreach displays each category name with a dropbox with a choice of all current //employees, it is displaying correctly, except that it does not have the correct employee
// name selected when the edit page loads.  I have printed the_meta() on the page, the correct // data is showing but cant pull it up as selected.

foreach ($get_categories as $term){ ?>
    <div id = "outerwrap">
    <div id = "innerwrap">
    <p style="font-weight:bold;">
    <?php echo $term->name;?>
    </p>
    </div>
    <select name="contributor-<?php echo $term->slug?>">
    <option id="no-contributions" value="No Contributions Received">No Contributions Received</option>
    <?php

// This while loop loads the names of all the employees which are a custom                  //post type, the title of the custom post type is the name of the employees

        while($my_query->have_posts()) : $my_query->the_post();
        $contributor_meta = get_post_meta($current_post->ID, 'contributor-' . $term->slug, TRUE);
        // If the name of the employee that is being pulled (title of the custom post
        // type employees) equals the $contributor_meta (also the employees name this
        // is saving correctly but currently the if statement is passing as TRUE for
        // all employees passing through

        if (the_title() == $contributor_meta){
            $selected=' selected="selected"';
            }
            else {$selected='';}
            ?>
        <option <?php echo $selected?> id="contributor-<?php echo $term->slug?>" value="<?php the_title() ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></option>
    </div>
    <?php
    endwhile;
    ?>
    </select>
    <?php
}
wp_reset_Query();
}