Chippewa Valley 5ive for Women The Chippewa Valley’s Premier Magazine for Women!
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WRITTEN BY HEATHER ROTHBAUER-WANISH
Lisa Stelter Graf has a strong base for all of the 5ive. As a busy wife, mother, business owner, and home mortgage professional with RCU, she has learned to hone in on what is most important in life. And, by doing so, she hopes to gain that balance that every woman strives to achieve on a daily basis.
FAITH
For Lisa, faith means more than going to church every Sunday. “I believe in God and everything He represents. And, I believe in living my life as a generous person.” Most of us know that actions speak louder than words, and Lisa lives her life by always remembering that. In her position as a home mortgage lender, Lisa has helped countless families purchase homes. “I have enjoyed helping people manage their finances and make their dreams a reality.” In addition, Lisa has been involved with many events and causes that support positive initiatives within the community.
FAMILY
Lisa and her husband Mike, a Sergeant with the Eau Claire Police Department, have four children: Lucas (27), Eric (25), David (25), and Joseph (23). Family is an important component in Lisa’s life, and she enjoys spending time with her children and extended family. “We live on Lake Wissota, so we tend to see the kids more in the summer. And, we all enjoy golfing as a hobby. Mike’s parents both live in Eau Claire, so we make it a point to spend as many holidays and special occasion as we can together.” And, for added excitement in her family life, Mike and Lisa recently purchased a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and are looking forward to riding it this spring.
FRIENDS
As with many women, Lisa counts on a close circle of friends for camaraderie, get-togethers, and laughs. “My most important group of friends is my Focus Group—a group of three best girl friends that meets on a regular basis. We all work in the mortgage industry, so we understand the daily challenges and frustrations as they pertain to our careers and being busy.” Because the women have known each other for almost 5 years, there is an instant connection among the friends, resulting in a tight-knit feeling that has seen them through life’s ups and downs.
FITNESS
While Lisa does not belong to a gym, she does make time for fitness in a variety of other ways. “It is very challenging to find time for fitness, something that almost everyone experiences.” She may not have a ‘regular’ fitness routine, but Lisa does find time to golf weekly in the summer. And, at least twice per year, Lisa and Mike make a commitment to take a vacation. She looks forward to spending time with her husband and doing a lot of activities when they are together.
FINANCE
As someone that works with potential homeowners on a daily basis, finance is at the forefront of Lisa’s life. She encourages her clients to live within their means and consistently put money in savings for unexpected expenditures. “My professional expertise includes bringing tough transactions to fruition, and one needs to be analytical to accomplish this.” Lisa has been RCU’s top producer since 2010 and received national recognition for her 2012 loan production from the Scotsman Guide. In addition to her busy professional life at RCU, Lisa and her husband own Camille’s Sidewalk Café and Bravo Salon & Spa LLC in Lake Hallie. When she started the businesses, it was the middle of a huge recession. Fortunately, she was able to ask her father to co-sign a business loan that helped the businesses successfully launch. And, Lisa partnered with exceptional people to operate these businesses; this includes Shari Spies at Bravo and Debbra Cobb at Camille’s.
Though she is proud of her professional accomplishments and entrepreneurship, Lisa believes that family is the most important thing in life. “My dad, who was our next door neighbor for almost 10 years, recently passed away after a year-long battle with cancer. At the end of last summer, when his illness was progressing rapidly, my family made a conscious effort to have dinner with Grandpa Jim every Sunday. Lucas and Eric took him on his last pontoon ride around his beloved Lake Wissota on September 29; he passed away a month later.”
