Meet Lissa Smith, Mayor Pro Tem of Plano, who has been elected twice to the city council. As a longtime civic leader, Smith has served on more than 30 boards and organizations and is deeply involved in efforts to improve economic development, regional transportation, and public safety. 

Smith has lived in Plano since 1990 and is passionate about helping the city reach it's full potential. She is also dedicated to serving the most vulnerable in the community as CEO of Collin County Meals on Wheels and Senior Services. To recognize her ongoing commitment to the community, Smith was recently named one of the "21 Leaders of the 21st Centrury" by Inside Collin County Business. Smith is married with two children.

We wanted to know more about Smith and she was kind enough to answer a few questions:

Dawn Tongish: Plano is a growing city. What projects are on the horizon that will improve the quality of life for citizens living in the city?

Lissa Smith: There are projects being built across Plano that will be improve our already vibrant quality of life.  We are always looking for ways to enhance Plano as a great place to live, work and play.  One excellent example is Downtown Plano.  Construction is underway on a $36 million mixed-use project near the DART rail stop and we are currently in negotiations with the project’s developer, Southern Land, on another exciting Downtown project.  Great projects that will enhance our fabulous downtown area. West Plano Village construction is in full swing. Eatzi’s opened several months ago and Princi Italia, Pakpao, Mia Dia from Scratch and Kona Grill are also slated to open.  The Village will soon include an apartment complex, these great new restaurants and new retailers.  We are also experiencing an office boom in West Plano.  Several new high rise office buildings are going up and of course, we are very excited about having Toyota in Plano.  Big things are happening in Plano!

DT: In your view, what sets this community apart from the surrounding cities?

LS: It’s great to be in Texas and we live in a region that continues to grow in leaps and bounds.  Great cities are comprised of great people.  I am proud of our diversity in Plano.  Through the years, we have transformed into a true melting pot.  I’m always amazed at the large number of people who give so much of their time & talents to volunteer in our City departments and to the many outstanding non-profits in our community.  We pride ourselves on being the “City of Excellence”.  Our goal is to provide quality services to our citizens and to work with them to make Plano a place we are all proud to live in.  I chose Plano as my home because I loved the can-do spirit of the people in Plano and the willingness to give back to their community.  They love where they live so they do what they can to enhance our community.   

DT: Being an elected official is a stressful job, what do you do to reset?

LS: Actually, I don’t see it that way, being a councilmember in Plano is incredibly rewarding.  It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Plano and we have so many great things happening in Plano – I look forward to every day!

DT: What can the people of Plano do to pitch in and improve their community?  

LS: Volunteer!  I view Plano as a community with a heart.  Our citizens embrace volunteerism in a big way.  We have an amazing program called Volunteers in Plano or VIP.  The number of participants is truly impressive.  Last year, 6300 volunteers served 95,000 hours.  The value to Plano of those hours: almost two million dollars.  Those who chose to volunteer are passionate about it.  By pitiching in, they help improve our community and create a true sense of pride and ownership. 

DT: You have taken over the leadership role at Meals on Wheels. What are your duties?

LS: As CEO, I am responsible for the strategic planning and operation of the Collin County Meals on Wheels and Senior Services. Meals On Wheels and Senior Services of Collin County a non-profit 501(c)(3) was founded in 1976 to serve the rapidly increasing needs of the area’s seniors, providing nutrition to improve their health by preparing and supplying meals to more than 800 homebound and isolated seniors daily.  The seniors receiving meals through the Meals on Wheels program are unable to shop and/or prepare a balanced meal for themselves.  Our staff and volunteers are often the only daily contact our seniors have. The Mission is to combat isolation and promote the heath, dignity and independence of those 60 years or older. 

DT: How did you become involved with Meals on Wheels, and why are you so passionate about the work being done there?

LS: My father-in-law has been a Meals on Wheels driver in Grayson County every day for the past 18 years.  Whenever we visited my in-laws in Sherman, my kids always looked forward to delivering meals. The Meals on Wheels program has been a part of our family for a long time.  I delivered meals in Plano last year during the March for Meals program that included elected officials and it reminded me how rewarding delivering meals and visiting with our seniors can be.

DT: What are your biggest needs at Meals at Wheels and how can the people of Colin County and beyond help to meet those needs?

LS: Volunteers. We have a variety of opportunities for volunteers but our most critical needs are volunteers that can deliver meals ( we especially need bi-lingual volunteers), volunteers to provide transportation to medical appointments and to help with repairs and maintenance of the homes of seniors. Delivery volunteers can deliver one time per month or every day, depending on their availability.  It takes about 2-3 hours to complete a route.  We also need volunteers in our office to follow up with our clients and to provide general administrative support, those hours are flexible.

DT: What is the best book you have read lately?

LS: The Noticer by Andy Andrews.

DT: What is the one thing citizens and employees would never guess about you?

LS: I love playing the piano! I took lessons when I was in grade school but didn’t keep it up.  I found an outstanding teacher in Plano and recently started playing again.

DT: If you had to describe your "bubble" Plano is three words, what would those words be?

LS: Community, pride & excellence.

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.