WPFN Member Spotlight: Kristie Riester

This month we're highlighting WPFN Member Kristie Riester, customer service & billing administrator for Queen Creek, Arizona. 

How has someone in the public finance community helped you rise in your career—and how do you pay that forward?
I’m incredibly fortunate to have had mentors who nudged, challenged, and championed me at every stage of my career. After twenty-two years in public service—starting as a lifeguard and eventually community services director, leading parks, recreation, aquatics, libraries, and events—I felt a pull toward a different kind of service. So in 2018, I took a leap of faith and became a motivational speaker, bestselling author, and career coach. Helping others grow became my new purpose.

Then in 2019, Scott McCarty, the Deputy Town Manager/CFO for the Town of Queen Creek, took a chance on me. He brought me in on contract to help revamp the customer service division for the water utility. Scott knew I had zero experience in utilities, but he also knew I had the leadership and heart to lift a team, repair trust, and build momentum. I fully expected to help them reset and then move on to my next project.

But something amazing happened. As my contract wrapped up, the team—this incredible group of people I had grown to admire—spoke up. They wanted me to stay. And before I knew it, I was stepping into a full-time role in a field I never imagined for myself.

Six years later, I’m still here, with a renewed fire for public service and a career path I didn’t plan but absolutely love. Scott’s willingness to see potential instead of limitations changed the trajectory of my professional life.

And that’s exactly how I pay it forward. I make it my mission to be the person who sees potential—especially when someone can’t quite see it in themselves yet. Whether I’m coaching, leading, or mentoring, I aim to open doors the way others have opened them for me. Because sometimes all it takes is one person believing in you to change everything.

What’s one way you build or contribute to community—at work or outside of it?
I’ve always believed deeply in the power of education and the doors it can open. So when I discovered P.E.O.—a philanthropic educational organization where women motivate, educate, and celebrate other women—I knew instantly that I wanted to be part of it. P.E.O. is more than a nonprofit; it’s a true sisterhood united by a mission to help women pursue their educational dreams.

Whether a woman is heading off to college after high school, returning to school to reenter the workforce, or reaching for a PhD, P.E.O. offers a pathway forward. Through scholarships, grants, loans, awards, and the stewardship of Cottey College, we provide meaningful, life-changing support to women from all backgrounds. Education isn’t just something we fund—it’s the heartbeat of our mission.

Serving my home chapter as vice president has been an absolute gift. I’ve gained new friendships, enjoyed the camaraderie of a purpose-driven community, and had the privilege of helping raise funds that directly invest in women’s futures. Contributing to a sisterhood that lifts others through education feels like one of the most impactful ways I can give back, both in my community and beyond.

What activity, hobby, or interest helps you recharge and show up strong for others?
Swimming! Water has always been my reset button. There’s something about being in or near it that instantly grounds me. A walk along the beach—with the waves crashing, the breeze in my face, and my feet in the surf—never fails to lift my mood and spark new inspiration.

On stressful or overwhelming days, slipping into our backyard pool to swim laps is my go-to therapy. The rhythmic movement, the quiet beneath the surface, and the simple act of gliding through the water helps me center myself and let everything else fall away. And when my body feels tired or achy, a long soak in the spa works wonders to revive both my muscles and my mindset.

I’m also an avid reader, so my perfect recharge moment is a sunny day spent floating on the water with a great book in hand. Water relaxes me, reading restores me—and together they help me show up refreshed, focused, and fully present for the people who count on me.