After working at Sacramento State since 2001 and being involved with numerous campus projects, the executive director of University Enterprises Inc. will leave the university to pursue a position in New Jersey.

Matt Altier was involved in the construction of the new Hornet Bookstore, Modoc Hall and the Academic Information Resource Center building, as well as campus beautification and signage efforts during his time with Sac State.

As an upper-level administrator, Altier was “very much involved with the financing and conceptual design of these projects,” said Ron Richardson, vice president of Facilities Services.

Richardson said Altier brought leadership and a “think outside of the box” approach to campus. Altier began his employment at Sac State as vice president of Facilities Services.

Altier convinced Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez to drastically increase the funding for campus maintenance projects. This allowed facilities to complete several projects, including painting, water damage repair and preventive maintenance.

He identified a need to beautify the campus grounds and created a plan to accomplish this goal. The project called for creating pathways and areas designed to encourage students to spend time on campus, Richardson said. Facilities Services built wooden trellises and placed benches in places where students would most likely to use them.

The trellises and benches create a common theme throughout campus and unify the variety of architectural structures, Altier said.

Since he accepted the position as vice president of Capital Planning and Resource Development and executive director of University Enterprises Inc., Altier played a role in the construction of several major projects on campus.

Arlette Barnard, special assistant to the vice president of University Enterprises Inc., said Altier has always been an accessible leader – someone who she could always go to.

“He is very receptive to new ideas, and he has been great for Sac State,” Barnard said.

Richardson said that Altier turned the creation of the campus signs into a student project for the Arts and Letters department. “That was something that I probably never would have thought of,” Richardson said. “Thinking like that is how he developed the risk-taking mentality at Sac State.”

Altier’s high energy level and dedication to his job earned him the nickname of “Little Tasmanian Devil,” Barnard said. Richardson said that Altier’s energy was a key element to making the changes that were needed on campus.

“Matt initiated the dialogue with Gonzalez and pointed out where the campus needed help,” Richardson said. “He got us going in the right direction.”

The new bookstore is one of the accomplishments that Altier is most proud of. The store gives Sac State students a state-of-the-art place to get supplies and technology, as well as textbooks, Altier said.

The Alex Spanos Sports Complex, Napa Hall, the Eli Broad Sports Facility and the development of the library breezeway are all projects that Altier led. In addition, he was instrumental in expanding Java City on campus, establishing Saigon Bay, securing an exclusive contract with Pepsi, creating the landscaping and developing the signs on campus.

Projects that are underway include the university tram, which will carry students and faculty from the 65th Street light rail station throughout campus, and the erection of an electronic sign that will overlook Highway 50 and bring advertising revenue to the campus.

Altier also played an important role in the purchase of the CalSTRS building, which will be developed into a miniature academic campus, and the purchase of 25 acres for development of a low-cost housing facility for staff and faculty at Sac State.

Altier said he hopes that in the future, the university continues to develop a strong relationship with surrounding entities, such as the state, city and county governments, local businesses and the community. He said he sees Sac State as “Sacramento’s university” and hopes that it continues to develop that role through community interaction.He said that his main motivation for leaving Sac State is to be closer to his family.

“It has been wonderful living here, but it is hard being so far away from my family for so long,” Altier said.

“I am going to miss everyone at UEI, the board of directors, the president and his cabinet, Facilities; there are so many great people here,” Altier said. “Also, I’m going to miss the weather.”

Altier will be leaving Sac State in mid-April and will begin his new job as vice president of Administration and Finance at Richard Stockton College in New Jersey in July. Richard Stockton College is the fifth best liberal arts college in the United States, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

After graduating high school in Pennsylvania, Altier joined the Air Force. He spent 10 years with the Air Force, five years as an air traffic controller and another five years as a construction engineer. While stationed at Beale Air Force Base, Altier attended classes at Chico State and received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering.

After leaving the Air Force, Altier accepted a position with Pacific Architects and Engineers Inc. as executive director of a NATO base in Mallorca, Spain.

After his contract in Spain ended, Altier returned to the United States. He gained experience in administration while working for several schools, including Florida International University and the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. He also worked for a non-profit educational supply company in Pennsylvania.

Altier had fond memories of the Sacramento area after his time in the Air Force, and decided that it would be nice to live in the area again. He found out about the open Facilities Services position through an advertisement in the newspaper.

“I thought Sacramento might be a nice place to relocate to for a while,” Altier said. “I didn’t know if I was going to be here for a short while or a long while, but I knew that one day I would go back home.”

Derek Fleming can be reached at [email protected].