Rod Cullum enjoyed visiting job sites with his kids, Brad and Lindsay, when they were young. The next step was law school. “It is so strange because there were no lawyers anywhere in our family and I had no lawyers as mentors,” Risoleo said. But her inquisitive nature and love for learning led her to the field. “I would watch ‘Perry Mason’ when I was little and say, ‘Mom, why don’t they ask this?’” she laughed. Risoleo was accepted into an accelerated program at University of Iowa’s College of Law, graduating in only two years. She applied to law firms in Phoenix, Minneapolis and Kansas City, but her dream was to come back to Phoenix. “I chose O’Connor Cavanagh, and I was so happy,” she said. In the early years of her career, Risoleo worked exceedingly long hours. “It was grueling, just like any other big-firm work,” she said. She met her first husband, Ted Overton, in 1984 and got married in 1986. Twin sons Teddy and Christian were born in 1990, and daughter Elizabeth followed five years later. “Balancing was hard, like it is for anyone,” she said about juggling home and family with a high-powered job. Colleagues and press clippings from the time praised Risoleo for “having it all.” But then, like now, the secret was old-fashioned hard work. “Being a litigator is a lot of pressure. Somebody’s business is at stake. I had these little kids running around. I would wait until they went to bed, and then work until the next morning,” she said. Risoleo’s star kept rising at O’Connor Cavanagh, and then the firm split and part became Greenberg Traurig. “A portion of O’Connor became Greenberg, so I’ve essentially been with the same firm for 40 years,” Risoleo said about being a shareholder of what is now one of the largest legal firms in the nation. Risoleo’s values and skills as a litigator — all the preparation, communication and tenacity — translated well to other areas of life, too, including philanthropy. In 1993, she became one of the founding members of Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, bringing the same rigor and attention to detail that had earned praise at her firm. Back then, Fresh Start founders Pat Petznick and Beverly Stewart would gather a handful of women around a conference table at O’Connor Cavanagh to determine how to support other women in the community. The approach appealed to Risoleo, whose own community work was rooted in her small-town upbringing. Colleagues and press clippings from the time praised Risoleo for “having it all.” But then, like now, the secret was old- fashioned hard work. 34 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE

“I come from very modest means, and the people who brought me along were my grandparents and people who were so caring. I understood, being one of six, that sometimes you need people to help you,” she said. “I was lucky enough to launch into this big law firm where it was more money than I ever dreamed I would make. So, I love giving back to people who need a helping hand.” Risoleo’s philanthropy isn’t scattershot. She has been an active Fresh Start member for over 30 years, served on its board, and chaired its ball several times. “And my kids were involved,” she said. “At fundraisers, all three of them would walk around with little baskets selling raffle tickets.” The American Heart Association and the annual Phoenix Heart Ball is another long-standing charity Risoleo supports. “I’ve been involved with that for 32 years now,” she said. There, too, her upbringing was an inspiration. “My grandmother, who was an idol of mine in lots of ways, needed a pacemaker to save her life,” Risoleo said. Through her research, Risoleo learned that the pacemaker was developed by a doctor at the American Heart Association. “So the research that we were funding through the Heart Ball and through all the fundraising that benefited AHA — the pacemaker wouldn’t have been developed without it,” Risoleo said. Her grandmother lived to be 98. But it’s not only Risoleo’s family that inspires her. “Just about everyone has someone in their life who has been affected by cardiovascular disease or stroke, which is why bringing awareness about heart health is so important to me,” she said. Data-driven and fact-based, Risoleo approaches her charitable work with the precision of a top attorney. She understands that, while you won’t always win, you improve your odds by treating people with respect and being prepared — and that goes for the ups and downs of life, as well. After her first marriage ended, Risoleo would frequently fly to see her son Teddy play golf for Dartmouth. Another parent, whose son played soccer, was often on her flights. They got acquainted, and one day he said, “I’ve got somebody I want you to meet.” That somebody turned out to be hotel executive Jim Risoleo, who lived in Washington, D.C., at the time. “There was a Tom Petty concert here and my firm had a skybox, so I invited the dad and his wife to go with me,” Risoleo said. “He said, ‘I’m not coming unless you let me invite Jim as your date.’” That was 15 years ago. She and Jim married in 2011, and Risoleo added two stepdaughters to the family, Cathy and Lauren. “It was seamless. All the kids get along, so it’s great,” she said. Jim and Pamela Risoleo have struck a perfect balance, merging their families, lives and careers. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE | 35