Ripon Forum


Vol. 51, No. 6

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In this edition

To the extent that the Ripon Profile has been one of our most popular and consistent features over the past 10 years, we thought it would be a good time to publish a compilation of every profile that has appeared in our pages during that time.

Ripon Profile of Jenniffer González-Colón

…from the November 2017 edition.

Ripon Profile of Doug Ducey

…from the September 2017 edition.

Ripon Profile of Bill Cassidy

…from the June 2017 edition.

Ripon Profile of Pat Meehan

…from the April 2017 edition.

Ripon Profile of Todd Young

…from the February 2017 edition.

Ripon Profile of Mimi Walters

…from the November 2016 edition.

Ripon Profile of Jeff Flake

…from the September 2016 edition.

Ripon Profile of Susan W. Brooks

…from the July 2016 edition.

Ripon Profile of Orrin G. Hatch

…from the April 2016 edition.

Ripon Profile of Elise M. Stefanik

…from the February 2016 edition.

Ripon Profile of Carlos Curbelo

…from the December 2015 edition.

Ripon Profile of Larry Hogan

…from the September 2015 edition.

Ripon Profile of Cory Gardner

…from the May 2015 edition.

Ripon Profile of Renee Ellmers

…from the February 2015 edition.

Ripon Profile of Mia Love

…from the December 2014 edition.

Ripon Profile of Mike Pence

…from the September 2014 edition.

Ripon Profile of Kelly Ayotte

…from the Spring 2014 edition.

Ripon Profile of Adam Kinzinger

…from the Winter 2014 edition.

Ripon Profile of Lynn Jenkins

…from the Fall 2013 edition.

Ripon Profile of Pat McCrory

…from the Summer 2013 edition.

Ripon Profile of Deb Fischer

…from the Spring 2013 edition.

Ripon Profile of Brian Sandoval

…from the Winter 2013 edition.

Ripon Profile of Cathy McMorris Rodgers

…from the Fall 2012 edition.

Ripon Profile of Luis G. Fortuño

…from the Summer 2012 edition.

Ripon Profile of Dean Heller

…from the Spring 2012 edition.

Ripon Profile of Kristi Noem

…from the Winter 2012 edition.

Ripon Profile of Bill Haslam

…from the Fall 2011 edition.

Ripon Profile of Nan Hayworth

…from the Summer 2011 edition.

Ripon Profile of Ron Johnson

…from the Spring 2011 edition.

Ripon Profile of Susana Martinez

…from the Winter 2011 edition.

Ripon Profile of Tim Scott

…from the Fall 2010 edition.

Ripon Profile of Charlie Dent

…from the Summer 2010 edition.

Ripon Profile of John Hoeven

…from the Spring 2010 edition.

Ripon Profile of Jo Ann Emerson

…from the Winter 2010 edition.

Ripon Profile of Jason Chaffetz

…from the Fall 2009 edition.

Ripon Profile of Jan Brewer

…from the Summer 2009 edition.

Ripon Profile of Lisa Murkowski

…from the Spring 2009 edition.

Ripon Profile of Richard Burr

…from the Winter 2009 edition.

Ripon Profile of Meg Whitman

…from the October/November 2008 edition.

Ripon Profile of Tim Pawlenty

…from the August/September 2008 edition.

Ripon Profile of Jon Huntsman

…from the June/July 2008 edition.

Ripon Profile of Michael Steele

…from the April/May 2008 edition.

Ripon Profile of Shelley Moore Capito

…from the February/March 2008 edition.

Ripon Profile of Charlie Crist

…from the December 2007/January 2008 edition.

Ripon Profile of Judy Biggert

…from the October/November 2007 edition.

Ripon Profile of Chuck Grassley

…from the August/September 2007 edition.

Ripon Profile of Jodi Rell

…from the June/July 2007 edition.

Ripon Profile of Kevin McCarthy

…from the April/May 2007 edition.

Ripon Profile of Linda Lingle

…from the February/March 2007 edition.

Ripon Profile of Kay Granger

From the December 2006/January 2007 edition.

Ripon Profile of Elise M. Stefanik

…from the February 2016 edition: 

Name: Elise M. Stefanik

Occupation: Proud Representative of New York’s 21st District in the House of Representatives

First job & lesson learned from it: Growing up in my family’s small business, Premium Plywood Products, the first job I can remember doing is helping my Mom and Dad with filing at the office, as well as answering phones (no more than two rings was the rule!). On the day after Thanksgiving each year, I would help organize the coupon mailing for the annual holiday discount to our hundreds of loyal customers. In high school, I also worked part time during the school year and summers in retail at Old Navy and became lead register during the holiday season and head of the Sunday weekly cleaning crew with the title of “Captain Clean.” These early jobs helped me understand that “no job is too small,” which I think every business owner and entrepreneur understands. I work to instill this value in my Congressional office.

Book(s) you’re recommending to friends: Instilled by my mom and teachers growing up, my love of reading has been an important part of my life. I frequently post what I’m reading on Instagram (@EliseStefanik) and have loyal followers who seem to look forward to my recommendations. And I love their feedback. In 2015, one of the highlights of my reading list was Champlain’s Dreams: The European Founding of North America by David Hackett Fisher. It is an incredibly vivid history of Champlain’s discovery and commitment to the settlement of North America — much of it set in my district NY-21! Currently I am working through Elena Ferrante’s Neopolitan Novels (I just finished Book 3!) which have captured the literary world by storm. They are excellent.

Top issue(s) in America that no one is talking about: Rural broadband. In my district, one of the main concerns is access to rural broadband. In order to have access to compete in the 21st century economy, you have to be connected. Rural broadband should be viewed as part of our nation’s fundamental infrastructure.

Challenge facing your District that you’re working hard to address: I continue to focus on economic growth and job creation in my district. We have growing sectors such as tourism, clean tech start-ups, agriculture, trade with Canada, medical device manufacturers and transportation parts manufacturers to name a few — but we need to promote federal policies such as tax reform and regulatory reform to allow and encourage these sectors to grow.

Finish this sentence: “If I could reform any agency or department in the federal government, it would be…” Every federal agency and department needs to be reformed. I am the youngest Member currently serving in Congress and part of my goal is to rethink the way government work by bringing positive, disruptive solutions that provide more transparency, accessibility, efficiency and accountability across the federal government. Let’s start at the VA so our nation’s heroes get the care, benefits and services they have earned.