Maria Denise Watkins, was a member of the Rise Community Market steering committee and is now serving her second term as Treasurer for the Board of Directors for the Rise Community Market.  She also spearheads the Product Committee.

Maria is currently the Alexander County Treasurer and serving her second term.

Maria owns and operates Awesome Arrangements Event Planning and serves as an advocate for her community.

Maria has a passion for investing in today’s youth in her community.  She has served as a supervisor for the Cairo High School Senior Class and currently the Prom Committee Sponsor. She also founded the Tri-County Youth Recreation Program and serves as a member of the Cairo School District #1 Parent Teacher Organization.

Maria’s passion and involvement in the community did not go unnoticed.  Maria was presented the 2022 “Women of Action & Achievement Award” by the Alexander/Pulaski County Branch NAACP amongst four other distinguished and phenomenal women.

Maria now resides in her hometown of Cairo, Illinois with her husband, Gerald Watkins Jr. and her two sons, Gerald III and Elijah. “We have come a long way as a community and Rise Community Market is just the beginning of many great things to come”.