Denise is a Southern California native who has over a decade of experience in public policy areas, largely in the public and non-profit sectors. Her passion for advocacy and social equity in frontline communities is driven by her family's Mexican-American roots in East Los Angeles. She has worked for the nation's largest metropolitan planning organization in Los Angeles, activating government innovation and improving civic engagement in the infrastructure space. She has also provided housing stabilization and social services in Monterey County. Denise is excited to continue working on fostering strategic partnerships with cross-sector stakeholders and community partners and bring resources together to address the barriers to economic opportunities for the tri-county Monterey Bay region.
Denise received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Chicana/o Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Denise is thrilled to work alongside MBEP colleagues to help develop creative and more innovative ways to serve the MBEP region. In her free time, she enjoys sporting events, live music, the arts, and staying active in her Monterey County community.
