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About Rep. Riseman

"I have lived in the area for over 25 years. I moved to the area when I bought a store, The Village Tie-Up, located on Long Lake in Harrison. I was attracted by the beauty of the region and the rural lifestyle."

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I was born in Norwood, Massachusetts, on December 2, 1947 and lived in Wrentham until my mother’s death in 1962. I then attended school at the Cambridge School of Weston, a college preparatory school, and was later accepted at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where I graduated in 1970 with a BBA and majored in Accounting and Finance.

 

I moved to Maine in the '70s and worked for Hannaford Brothers as a staff accountant, which was an excellent background for eventually buying and operating my own business, a convenience store in Harrison, Maine, The Village Tie Up located at the head of Long Lake.

 

I sold that business in 1992 and was inspired to answer an advertisement for Community Concepts looking for a Small Business Development Specialist. The job focused on providing business technical assistance to small businesses and managing a micro-loan program, which was funded by the US Small Business Administration.

 

My professional growth during my 22 years at Community Concepts also consisted of employment as Accounting Manager, Controller, Director of Finance and ultimately the Chief Financial Officer. I served as CFO for 15 years and recently retired in September 2015.

 

Community Concepts is a non-profit Community Action Agency located in South Paris and Lewiston and has an annual budget of over $23 million. It primarily serves low income families in Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin Counties with programs including Head Start, Family Counseling, Home Repair, Homeownership services including credit counseling, as well as Transportation, Property Management and Economic Development services.

 

I have been married to my wife, Jane, for 25 years and currently live in Harrison. We are parents to eight children, four are my biological, two are her biological and we have two adopted children. The youngest is now 18 years old. The oldest are my biological twins who are now 43 years old. We also have 7 grandchildren including a 3 month old grand daughter.

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Cast your vote to re-elected Independent Rep. Walter Rismean 

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Representative Riseman attends a legislative signing by Maine Governor Janet Mills on a bill to expand death benefits for volunteer firefighters. 

“I am excited and optimistic about the future. I want to be part of the great things that can happen for this District and people of this community.”

Leadership Accomplishments

  • In 1986, I coordinated and presented the official Town of Harrison response to the Federal DOE attempts to place a nuclear waste dump in the region.
     

  • Helped save 40 jobs and services to over 100 special needs children at the Child Health Center on Oxford when they were imminent danger of closing.
     

  • Served as treasurer of the Oxford Hill Growth Council and later lead the effort to move the program under the auspices of Community Concepts which maintained the lending resources and economic development efforts in the region.
     

  • As CFO of Community Concepts, helped build and grow the financial stability of the organization which served over 10,000 clients in the region.
     

  • Assisted in drafting versions of Comprehensive Plans for Harrison, Gray, and Bridgton.
     

  • Served as chair of the Harrison Democratic Committee and delegate at numerous Democratic State Conventions for both the Towns of Harrison and Gray. Successfully had the “Toxic Bill of Rights” added to the Democratic platform during the period when Gray was dealing with the McWin Toxic Waste site in 1988.
     

  • Helped grow small business development through technical assistance and providing lending resources through the SBA Microlending Program since 1986 Received special recognition from the Small Business Administration State Office in September 2015.

Leadership Roles

  • Serving low and moderate income families.

  • Helping build the economic base of the region.

  • Advocate for and help grow small businesses.

  • Budgeting and planning for a mid-size regional non-profit.

 

Civic Positions

  • Chair of Gray Town Council (Elected to Council)

  • Town Moderator for Harrison (Elected to Position) 5 different years

  • Alternate on Bridgton Planning Board (Appointed)

  • Chairman of Harrison Nuclear Waste Committee (Appointed)

  • Harrison Budget Committee (Appointed)

  • Oxford Hills Growth Council Representative (Appointed)

  • Chairman, Harrison Democratic Committee (Elected)

 

Community Involvement

  • Multiple Youth Coaching Positions

  • Served on Fare Share Co-op Board (Including Treasurer)

  • Served on the Oxford Hills Growth Council Board and Loan Committee

  • Member of SCORE for 20 years

  • Owner of Village Tie-Up Grocery in Harrison

  • Volunteer at the Harrison Food Pantry

 

Professional Involvements

  • Board Treasurer of Deertrees Theater

  • Chairman of Community Action Finance Directors Association

  • Board Treasurer of Oxford Hills Growth Council

  • Board Treasurer for Tri County Mental Health

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Current  and Past Organizations

  • Oxford Hills SCORE chapter for 20 years

  • Fare Share Food Cooperative

  • Deertrees Theater Foundation

  • Maine Development Foundation – Maine Leadership Institute Alumni

  • Maine Foster and Adoptive Parents Association

  • Oxford Hills Growth Council

  • CAP Finance Directors of Maine

  • Board of Directors and Board Treasurer for Tri-County Mental Health

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