Kristann Mattes
Vice President and
Director of the Board
Kristann Mattes is the
great-granddaughter of Founder Harmon Bigelow and Leota Bigelow,
and daughter of President Luanne Silkwood. She resides in O'Neals
with her husband, Jim, and 2 children. Her current role in the
company is Vice President. Mattes works with the Executive
Management team to guide her family company through the complex
issues of the telecommunications business.
Kristann (Silkwood) attended
Fresno State University, where she completed her Bachelor of
Science Degree in Agricultural Science in 1977 and embarked upon a
distinguished career in education. Her ultimate goal after
graduation was to learn how to be a leader in preparation for her
return to run the family business.
Having grown up on the family
ranch in O’Neals, she grew to love the rural lifestyle. After
entering the field of education she was strongly drawn to create
an educational environment for students and teachers in the field
of agriculture. She earned the American Farmer Degree in 1973 and
the Honorary American Degree in 1996. Today Mattes is a respected
leader in her field as Chair of the Central High Agricultural
Dept., distinguished as the single largest FFA chapter in
California, Chairman of California Association FFA Board of
Directors, and Past Chairman of the California FFA Foundation. Of
the numerous accolades she has received she most prizes the
“Star State Advisor” in 1996.
Mattes, her husband and
children continue work as a family on her family’s ranch in
O’Neals raising approximately 100 head of Registered Angus and
Shorthorn cattle, 30 head of market swine plus 30 head of Suffolk
and Hampshire sheep. |
