Photos by Scott Foust From courtroom powerhouse to philanthropic trailblazer, Pamela Overton Risoleo is proof that hard work and dedication never go out of style. 32 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE

I t was 1983, and Iowa native Pamela Overton Risoleo was fresh out of law school. Just 23, she had landed a job at Phoenix’s prestigious O’Connor Cavanagh law firm and was making a name for herself in the high-stakes world of litigation. Calm and tenacious, she became known for her rigorous preparation, writing her opening in longhand on legal pads and rehearsing in front of a mirror. “I would go to the courtroom, put it aside and just say it,” she said. “They used to call me the ‘Velvet Hammer’ because I was so prepared.” Today, Risoleo’s touch remains. Smooth like velvet, she is using her strength, intelligence and kindness to hammer out plans for a banner year. So much has lined up, in fact, it’s almost like she planned it. Risoleo grew up in North Liberty, Iowa, the second-oldest of six children. Her mother, Shirley, was an obstetrics nurse and her father, Bill, was a contractor. “When I grew up, North Liberty had 200 people. We lived on Front Street, which was the main street, and there were 20 houses,” Risoleo said. She was close to her grandparents and credits her Midwestern upbringing for her work ethic and values. Risoleo became the first in her family to attend a four-year college when she chose Arizona State University. She loved the people and the weather and joined a sorority. “Financially, I wasn’t sure, but my grandmother said, ‘If you get in, I’ll help you,’” Risoleo said. “She was an incredible entrepreneur — she owned antique shops. So I rushed, and I got into Pi Phi.” Risoleo adored college life, but halfway through her sophomore year, her parents got divorced. “I had four younger siblings back in Iowa City, and I needed to go back to help with my family,” she said. So, she transferred to the University of Iowa to finish her degree, majoring in political science and minoring in philosophy. BY KAREN WERNER Pamela Overton Risoleo talks law, philanthropy and tradition A Season of Leadership Risoleo ( back row, far left ) grew up with strong maternal figures. Her mother Shirley ( front row ) worked nights as an obstetrics nurse for 18 years while her six children grew up. COVER STORY Risoleo ( back row, far right ) joined Pi Beta Phi as an ASU student. She went on to become president of the University of Iowa chapter. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE | 33