About Denise

The majority of my career was devoted to MVP Health Care, a $3.5 billion, mission-based healthcare company in upstate New York. In 1995 I signed on as a staff attorney and was promoted steadily, becoming General Counsel and eventually Chief Executive Officer. I left MVP in 2019 after serving 7 years as President & CEO.

The leadership philosophy I brought to MVP was shaped at the beginning of my career as a lawyer practicing public sector labor law. From this experience I became acutely aware of how organizational environments impact people. I came away with a fundamental respect for the importance of culture, community and a bias toward transparency and problem solving. 

From this set of philosophical filters I addressed a wide range of strategic, legal and operational issues at MVP. These included transformational change, mergers & acquisitions along with integrations and divestitures, and restructuring to improve operational capacity and capabilities.

Connecting Business with Community

As a believer in strong communities and the importance of civic engagement, I have held Board leadership roles in statewide and local business organizations. I am a past chair of the New York State Health Plan Association, the New York State Business Council and the Capital Region Chamber.  I currently serve on several corporate boards, including Chemung Canal Trust Company (NASDAQ: CHMG) and Fenimore Asset Management (FAM) Funds. In the arts and education sectors, I serve on the boards of Albany Law School, Proctors Theatre, and the Times Union Women@Work.

 Supporting Women in Business

Having had the experience of being a lone female CEO in many rooms, I am an advocate for advancing women in business at all levels and across all sectors. I speak widely on the subject and advise senior executive women as well as entrepreneurs and small business owners on sustaining and growing their careers and businesses.

As a lifelong New Yorker, I am proud to have been educated in New York, as an undergraduate at Hofstra University, and earning my JD from Albany Law School.