2019 Feb. Mag.

{PHOTO CREDIT: CERESE DOLMAN - GRAPHIC CREDIT: CERESE DOLMAN}

Denise Smith, a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a certified project management professional whose career spans a period of over seventeen years. With a focus on the management of complex business challenges, she has established a firm track record as a skilled strategist and project leader who has coordinated enterprise wide projects for domestic and international accounts involving some of the most recognized brand names in both technology, including Verizon, Amazon, Blackberry, and in consumer products, including Black&Decker, Coca Cola, Home Depot, Michelin, Wachovia, McGraw ­Hill and Western Union.

Her expertise includes business strategy development, project estimating, scope determination, gap analysis, business process reengineering, issue mitigation, configuration, custom code specifications, testing, training and post implementation support. She readily transforms a company's strategic roadmaps and objectives into workable solutions and benchmarks performance against key operational targets and goals to aid the development of key internal processes and technology driven services. She is known for leveraging her cross-cultural skills and international experience to lead high performing teams.

After commencing her collegiate education at Northeastern University, Denise ultimately transferred to Spelman College where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in May 1999. In December 2014, Denise obtained a Master of Business Administration with a focus in the innovation of technology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Denise is currently the HR Systems Portfolio Lead for Service Centre, CoreHR, and Reporting & Analytics with EY. Denise also serves as the innovation leader of EY Atlanta Unity as an supportive advocate for the LGBT+ community and helps to create a safe and inclusive environment for LGBT+ employees through her words and behaviors. This in turn helps support an open and inclusive workplace for everyone. In addition, she has served as one of the Southeast Region Corporate Responsibility Champions that execute the firm's Corporate Responsibility programs that are focused around education, entrepreneurship, and environment. She is active in several organizations: Technology Association of Georgia; Women In Technology ("WIT") Volunteer Program Director for WIT Forums and Socials; United Way Cole Women United Cabinet: Vice Chair; Most Valuable Kids: Advisory Board.

Denise has always prided herself on being an active member in each community in which she has lived, a penchant, which found its start growing up in Guilford, Connecticut.  A resident of Atlanta for over twelve years, she has been an active participant in a wide variety of community service programs.  Along with her husband, son and daughter, she is a member of Buckhead Church where she served as an Volunteer Team Captain for the organization's KidStuf program.