Matt Pontes, former Shasta County CEO, tapped as SPI’s first Director of Wildfire and Fuels Management
SHASTA COUNTY, Calif., — Matt Pontes, who announced last month that he was resigning as Shasta County CEO, and timber titan Sierra Pacific Industries announced over the weekend that Pontes will become Sierra Pacific Industries’ (SPI) first Director of Wildfire and Fuels Management.
Sierra Pacific Industries is a third-generation, family-owned forest products company based in Anderson, California, and the company owns and manages more than 2.3 million acres of timberland in California, Oregon and Washington. As one of the largest U.S. lumber manufacturers, the company also produces millwork, windows and renewable energy.
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Pontes, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry & Natural Resources Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and whose last Board of Supervisors meeting was Tuesday, begins his new position with SPI on Monday according to SPI.
With more than 30 years of experience in forest and wildfire management, fire response and recovery, and public agency leadership, SPI CEO Mark Emmerson said of Pontes’ new role with the company, “We are excited to have Matt’s strategic leadership in this newly created position developed to protect our timberlands, ecosystems and rural communities.”
“Matt will guide our company’s work in wildfire suppression and resiliency efforts, leveraging his experience in public and private organizations combined with his strong understanding of wildfire and natural resources management,” said Emmerson. “As we strive to protect our lands and communities through strengthened partnerships with adjacent landowners, rural communities, and state and federal agencies, we are pleased to have Matt join our team and lead this important effort.”
“I am extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity to join the leadership team, family culture and crew at SPI,” said Pontes. “This new role aligns with my passion in wildfire, forestry and natural resources,” Pontes explained.
“With SPI’s proven track record of success in healthy forest management and sustainability, I look forward to partnering with agencies, landowners and communities to strategize on wildfire resiliency,” he went on to say, adding, “Our future depends on long-term solutions that will better protect California’s forested landscape and vital natural resources.”
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Trevor Montgomery, 51, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and operates Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS). Both are stringer organizations, providing breaking news coverage and community interest stories for other mainstream media organizations throughout the two regions they serve.
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.