Denise was named Chief Human Resources Officer in October 2023. After working at another non-profit for 7 years, she joined SouthLight in 2008 as HR Administrator, transitioned to HR Manager, and then Senior HR Director. She enjoys working with staff across the agency on training, compliance, onboarding, and strategic planning. Denise currently holds the SPHR certification through the Human Resources Certification Institute and has over 25 years of experience in the field.

Originally from VA Beach, Denise relocated to Wake County over 24 years ago and now considers NC home. Living just outside of Raleigh with her husband and two sons, she spends a lot of her time at hockey rinks around the country and enjoys running, hiking, kayaking, and the beach.