2. Who is Gary Rissler
“I’ve always been instrumental in starting in-house construction and store-planning departments,
and at Stuart Weitzman, I’m doing that globally.”
From the oil fields of Wyoming to Burberry stores on Madison Avenue, Gary Rissler has worked
it all. Rissler got his start in construction in 1972 and spent the next few decades building major
chains such as Pier 1 Imports, RadioShack, and Macy’s. Now a construction management and
development veteran, Rissler is the director of store planning, construction, and facilities for
Stuart Weitzman Holdings, LLC. Founded in 1986, Stuart Weitzman is an international, high-end
shoe and handbag retailer whose construction practices have been completely transformed by
Rissler’s seasoned expertise. American Builders Quarterly sat down with the director to hear about
the value of experience and the importance of professional growth.
As told to Benjamin van Loon
I grew up on a ranch in Wyoming, left home at 12, and got married at 16. And at that time, in
Wyoming, new work laws were just coming into effect, and it was hard to find work. A friend
suggested I go to work in the oil fields since, at the time, they put pretty much anyone to work. After a
month there, an industrial accident landed me in the hospital and would eventually leave me with a
missing finger. While I was recovering, I used the accident as an opportunity to pursue my love of
drafting and architecture. I relocated to an architectural technology school in Denver to learn drafting
and move into that industry.
Gary Rissler: Career Highlights
1978–1983: Owns and operates his own design, construction, and building-materials businesses in
Casper, WY
1984–1985: Works as project architect for Niels Valentiner & Associates, constructing mid-rise
office buildings and retail centers
1987–1991: Works as senior construction project manager for Pier 1 Imports
1991–1996: Works as senior director of construction for the big box division at Tandy Corporation
in Forth Worth, TX
1996–1998: Relocates to New York City and works as director of construction management services for
FRCH Design Worldwide
1998–2001: Works as senior project manager for Federated Department Stores
2001–2002: Works as contract construction manager for Newmark Construction Services
2002–2004: Works as construction manager for hospital construction for Wm Blanchard Co. in
Springfield, New Jersey
2004–2010: Works as director of construction for Burberry USA and creates its in-house
construction department
2011–Present: Works as director of store planning, construction, and facilities for Stuart Weitzman
Holdings, LLC
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3. After I finished the program in Denver, I moved back to Wyoming, where I started working for an
architecture firm. Because I was good at drafting, I quickly became head of their drafting pool and soon
started working for HNTB, who was doing projects in my area at that time. From there, I went to work
for a contractor who did commercial building and oil-field projects. One of the firm’s owners asked me
why I didn’t go independent, so in 1978 I went into business for myself. Less than a year later, I had
around 100 employees, and I hired an Argentinean architect who still runs that firm today.
In the mid-1980s, when the oil business died in Wyoming, I moved to Salt Lake City, where I worked
for another architecture firm. From there, I started working for a company who hired me on as a
construction manager for their commercial buildings and shopping center projects. In those days, most
retail stores were landlord build-to-suit, and most retail chains didn’t have in-house construction teams.
Among the stores we helped build, Pier 1 Imports liked what I did so much that they brought me to
Texas to help them build an in-house team.
I later moved to Tandy Corporation, where I managed a team of 25 project managers building more
than $800 million a year in big-box stores. I was there from 1991 to 1996, when the company started
undergoing some transformations. I used it as an opportunity to find new work and ended up in New
York City, working for FRCH Design Worldwide, where I created a construction-management
department to help their retail clients that did not have in-house teams. However, they and the other
company I worked for relocated to Cincinnati. I wanted to stay in New York, so I did some consulting
for a few years and then went to work for Burberry from 2004 to 2010, creating their in-house
construction department.
I went independent again for a while, but in 2011 I received five job offers. I chose Stuart Weitzman
because I really enjoy the people and the work the company does. Most people I’ve known over the
years that are in my line of work don’t understand business on the retail operations side, and in most
companies, the relationship between retail operations and store planning and construction is almost
adversarial. I have worked very hard through the years to learn and understand their needs so I could
better contribute to the overall experience. I’ve worked very hard to strengthen my relationship with
operations, finance, legal, HR, and anybody that affects how a store becomes profitable.
I’ve always been instrumental in starting in-house construction and store-planning departments, and at
Stuart Weitzman, I’m doing that globally. I’m fortunate to have worked for a lot of companies and done
a lot of things. My experience helps me maneuver everything from the job level to the back-room
politics that make up the corporate world. Having built stores in all regions of North America has been
really helpful for knowing how I communicate on an international basis. Internally, we are using new
web-based software to manage how we communicate better in all areas we affect. I want to keep
partnering with more international parties so that I can grow my knowledge in those areas. ABQ
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