Meet Denise
As Co-CEO & Founding Partner, Denise does a little of everything at Scatena Daniels Communications but mainly focuses on new business development, agency marketing, and creating award-winning communications strategy and plans for clients.
Denise is known to clients and teammates as whip-smart, crazy organized, well-connected, and disarmingly practical. She has the ear of some of the top media powerhouses and community influencers in San Diego County and beyond.
Denise is a third-generation San Diegan and comes from a line of entrepreneurs who owned several successful businesses in the region. When she isn’t driving her twin teenage girls around or acting as their personal shopper, Denise loves staying active with pilates, hiking, and barre class.
With more than 25 years in the industry, Denise’s community roles and industry awards are many. She is an immediate past board member of the San Diego Press Club. She is an active member of the San Diego Association of Black Journalists (SDABJ), the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), specifically the San Diego/Imperial County Chapter, Orange County, CA Chapter, and the Counselors Academy. Denise is also a member of the North County Philanthropy Council, San Diego Rotary Club 33 and the San Diego/Tijuana Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ).
Denise was awarded PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties 2020 Public Relations Professional of the Year. Her work and connections have been recognized by various organizations, including the San Diego Business Journal's most influential business leaders in the SD500 awards (2021 and 2022), and is one of SD Metro Magazine's 2023 Top Marketing and PR Executives. Her dedication to the industry and strategic communications work has also been recognized by the San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards; North County Philanthropy Council's Volunteer of the Year Awards (2021), PRSA San Diego Bernays Awards, San Diego Business Journal's Women in Business awards program, San Diego Metropolitan Magazine's "40 Under 40," and the Cable Television Public Affairs Awards.
Denise's Motto: “When you know better, you do better.” – Maya Angelou