Matthew Bissell

The professional journey of Matthew Bissell reflects years of steady effort across multiple fields, shaped by hands-on experience, personal responsibility, and a consistent focus on helping others. Born in Oakland, California, in 1973, he has worked in financial consulting, social support services, and a wide variety of service-based roles that required adaptability and reliability. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Pitzer College, with additional international study at the University of Sussex. Alongside his work, he is a father of two who values family involvement and remains deeply connected to sports and community activities.

Matthew was born on November 20, 1973, at Oakland Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California. He is the son of Peter and Nancy Bissell. His father spent multiple decades working as a longshoreman in the Bay Area and was a proud member of the ILWU. His mother pursued a career that blended education and entrepreneurship, beginning as a Special Education Teacher and later owning and operating a local clothing store. He grew up with one sister in a family environment built on support, structure, and shared responsibility. As a child, he spent much of his time with friends and playing on youth sports teams. Growing up in the Bay Area allowed him to play football, baseball, and soccer year-round, which helped instill teamwork and consistency from an early age.

From 1991 to 1995, Matthew attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. During his college years, he was an active student-athlete, playing baseball and football for the Pomona/Pitzer combined teams. In 1994, he earned First Team All-SCIAC honors in football, playing as a defensive end, punter, and placekicker. Managing academic coursework alongside athletic commitments taught him time management, discipline, and mental focus. That same year, he spent a semester abroad at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. While overseas, he traveled extensively through Europe, Africa, and Asia, visiting Spain, Morocco, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Germany, and the Netherlands. These experiences exposed him to diverse cultures and broadened his understanding of different perspectives. After completing his undergraduate degree, he pursued additional academic coursework at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California.

Matthew’s career spans a wide range of industries. Early work in apparel sales helped him develop strong customer service and communication skills. He also worked as a gardener and landscaper, a waiter, a truck driver trainer, and a FedEx and UPS delivery driver. Over time, he expanded into roles such as travel agent, caregiver, and social worker. These positions required organization, problem-solving, and empathy, whether coordinating logistics or supporting individuals with daily challenges.