• How long have you lived in Siloam Springs?
"I was born at the Siloam Springs hospital and I lived here until I was 13, my father passed away, and after I got married I moved back when I was 21 and I've been here ever since."
• So you're married, do you have kids or grandkids?
"Yes, I'm married to John Rissler, and we have five kids between us. My late husband, who passed away a year and a half ago, we have three children, Aaron, Ashley and Aubrey, and John has two children, Abby and Anna. I have four wonderful grandchildren and a daughter-in-law (named) Chelsea."
• What is your educational background?
"I have an associate's in business from Western University, a bachelor's in information systems from the University of Phoenix and a master's in public administration from Walden University."
• What is your employment background?
"I worked for the city of Siloam Springs, then I went to work for the city of Fayetteville and I currently work at Crafton Tull as the vice president of human resources."
• What was your role while working for the cities of Siloam Springs and Fayetteville?
"I was a system administrator for the city of Siloam and then for the city of Fayetteville, I was a BSA (Business Systems Analyst) project manager, where I did programming and such."
• What were your motives for running for city board?
"I have a lot of investment in Siloam Springs, I was born and raised there most of my life, um, there was that gap I told you about. I have children that are there, my grandchildren are there, I have my business -- Heavenly Stitches -- there, so I have a lot of investment in Siloam. I love Siloam and I want to see it prosper and grow."
• Can you tell me a little bit about your business, Heavenly Stitches?
"So my late husband did woodworking, he designed swing sets that are in Sam's and Lowe's and all of those. He had a love for woodworking, so he designed pergolas and swings and stuff for people on the side. When he passed away, I took his passion and put it into my interest of quilting and sewing and I opened Heavenly Stitches up. That is where the name Heavenly came from, to include that I know he is in heaven watching down over my business."
• As it pertains to local government, what specific issues do you feel could or should be improved, if any?
"I've thought about that. I have my own personal issues, but I'm not running for personal gain. I'm running because I want to be the voice for Ward 4. I want to have ward meetings so I can find out the issues that they are having, so it isn't personal to me, it's what the citizens need and want and I want to be a voice for them."
• Can you name three things that you feel make you qualified to represent Ward 4?
"My knowledge, not only have I taken my experience -- which I'll discuss in a second -- but I've taken my knowledge a step further by getting my master's (degree). As for experience, I've worked for the city of Siloam Springs, I've worked for the city of Fayetteville, I know personally how things work and I just know how the processes of how government works, so I think that gives me a step up. And then, my desire to serve the community; that is a strength to me, that my desire is there to serve."
• If elected, how would you go about communicating with members of your ward?
"I think ward meetings, if you are consistent on them, you may not have a lot of participation at first, but once they see that you're taking their voice back to the meetings, I think you'll get more participation. And, I think that is the best way to reach people. You aren't forcing yourself on them, but you're allowing them the opportunity to come to me and be a voice for them."
• Is there anything else that you would like to add that I haven't asked or that hasn't been discussed?
"The message I'm trying to get out -- besides being a wife and a mother and a grandmother -- I want my message to display that I was born and raised in the Siloam Springs community, I'm a community volunteer, even though I'm not currently, with my history -- anybody knows I have volunteered many hours to the community and I will continue doing that when Aubrey is the appropriate age, because she is only 21 months old and she has to take priority at the moment. I have a master's in public administration, I have over 15 years of experience in local government, I am an owner of Heavenly Stitches downtown and I'm the vice president of human resources at Crafton Tull. With all of that combined, I feel like I have a lot to offer Siloam Springs."
General News on 10/10/2018