A Lifetime of Student, Business, Alumni, and Community Leadership
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Duncan L. Matteson |
As a student at Mizzou's business school, Duncan Matteson was president of his fraternity, Sigma Chi; a member of the student council; and played on both the varsity basketball and golf teams. He was named Intramural Athlete of the Year in 1955.
Matteson has been in the investment business on the San Francisco peninsula since 1959, successfully acquiring, developing, and managing high-quality apartment buildings, commercial office buildings, and retail centers in five western states. He first established Matteson Investment Corporation in 1978 and in 1994 founded Matteson Realty Services, Inc. and Matteson Real Estate Equities, Inc., where he serves as chairman.
He was also the founding chairman of the board of Mid-Peninsula Bank in Palo Alto in 1987 and subsequently acquired 10 more banks and a major national insurance brokerage firm. He merged that consortium as Greater Bay Bancorp into Wells Fargo Bank in 2007.
"On the job, respect is paramount to success." Matteson says. "Be respectful of everyone and their opinions along the way. It is possible to disagree in a professional and friendly manner so that you never burn a bridge." He emphasizes that in his four companies disrespect is not tolerated. His family members also share his philosophy. Matteson's wife, Shirley, studied accounting at Mizzou and handled facilities management as a partner in the business for 22 years until she retired three years ago. Their son, Matt, is president of their companies.
As an alumnus, Matteson is still a Mizzou leader. He was chair of The Herbert J. Davenport Society in 1989, the year the college's donor-recognition organization was founded. In that role, he helped to form the donor-recognition organization that encourages and recognizes private support for the business school.
Currently, Matteson serves on the Trulaske College of Business Strategic Development Board and its Executive Committee. Throughout the For All We Call Mizzou campaign, he was a member of the college's campaign steering committee. He received an Alumni Citation of Merit Award from the college in 1991 and a Faculty-Alumni Award from MU in 1994. "It's been one of the highlights of my life to see what's happened at Mizzou's business school, and how it is continually advancing," says Matteson.
He has been continuously involved within several organizations, including serving as chairman of both Stanford Heart Council at Stanford Medical Center and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Mizzou also remains a priority. Besides returning to campus for meetings, the Mattesons have made major gifts to support Cornell Hall and to establish the Matteson Professor of Financial Services and the Matteson Financial Services Excellence Fund. They are Distinguished Patrons of the Davenport Society with gifts totaling more
than $800,000.
Keeping in touch with today's students helps him keep his perspective, says Matteson. Conversely, students benefit from wisdom he's gained over his exemplary career. Matteson advises students to "Find the area in business – such as finance and real estate are for me – that really interests you to the extent that you don't watch the clock. When your work becomes your passion, everything falls into place, and you're very likely to be successful in that endeavor."