MICHAEL J. HILLIARY

MICHAEL J. HILLIARY 

VICE PRESIDENT

Industry Experience: 31

Tenure with Hilliary: 31 

Michael Hilliary is Senior managing partner at Hilliary, where he supports the company’s outside plant construction, infrastructure upgrades, and fleet operations. With over 30 years of experience, Michael plays a key role in keeping field operations running smoothly across ILEC and CLEC networks in Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond.

Since joining the business in 1993, Michael has worked in nearly every technical role—from installer to field technician to central office technician. His hands-on background has shaped a practical, operations-first mindset that continues to guide his leadership today. He remains actively involved in Hilliary’s telecom operations, particularly in rural construction projects, capital planning, and keeping the company’s growing fleet and infrastructure aligned with long-term goals.

One of the early highlights of Michael’s career was helping build Wichita Online, a wireless internet service provider (WISP) that served over 5,000 rural customers at its peak. He oversaw field operations, coordinated installer and tower technician teams, and ensured the business delivered reliable service to some of the state’s most underserved areas. Wichita Online was successfully sold in 2015, but the experience further cemented Michael’s foundation in broadband development and rural connectivity—work he continues today through Hilliary Communications and its affiliates.

In addition to his telecom work, Michael manages Hilliary Farms and the Meers-Saddle Mountain Ranch—the Hilliary family’s cow-calf operation in southwest Oklahoma. His early experience in agriculture and time working with Park Propane gave him a deep appreciation for hard work and the rural way of life—values that remain central to his approach today.

Michael has been deeply involved in agricultural youth development for years. He played a key role in establishing the Elgin FFA shooting team and remains an active supporter of Elgin FFA programs. He currently serves on the board of the Oklahoma FFA Foundation and is also a board member of the Comanche County Saddle & Sirloin Club and the Oklahoma Indian Territory Poultry Association (ITPA).

In 2022, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Michael to the Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Council, recognizing his decades of experience in rural broadband deployment and infrastructure.

A lifelong resident of Comanche County, Michael lives in Meers with his wife, Cheryl. The two have been married since 1998 and are raising three children: Shawn, an agricultural science teacher at Catoosa High School and 2025 graduate of Oklahoma State University; Hayden, a student at Murray State College and member of the national champion collegiate shooting team; and Carter, currently in eighth grade at Elgin Middle School. As a family, they’re proud supporters of Elgin Public Schools and the surrounding community—always finding ways to give back and stay involved.