Name: Denise Croden
Time Served on the Board: Since June 2021
Board Role: President
Denise’s journey with PMSF began as an extension of her volunteer work in her community, including participating in Special Olympics and charity events. She wanted to dedicate her spare time to her family, particularly her 21 year-old nephew, Johnathan Winrow, who has Phelan-McDermid syndrome.
Denise first connected with PMSF while volunteering at the 2018 PMSF Family Conference in Dallas. Experiencing the incredible sense of community inspired her to get more involved.
Professional Experience & Expertise
Denise serves as Vice President of Integrated Production for GPJ’s East accounts, leading a team of producers who execute experiences for major clients like IBM, Google, PwC, and others. With 30 years of experience in marketing, sales, production, and operations, Denise has a proven track record of delivering complex events that exceed client expectations.
Her leadership, project management expertise, organizational skills, and ability to infuse positivity and humor make her an invaluable asset to the board.
Denise reflects on how her role at PMSF has helped her achieve her personal goals of giving back to her family and community. Professionally, her involvement offers her new perspectives on nonprofit management, while her agency expertise in strategy and marketing enhances PMSF’s efforts.
Contributions & Goals for PMSF
Denise is particularly proud of the progress PMSF has made in strategic planning and governance. She also highlights the 2022 Virtual Conference as a major accomplishment, meeting the community’s need for connection and information in challenging times.
Looking forward, Denise hopes to continue building awareness, increasing donations, advancing research, and ultimately finding treatments and cures. Denise is also focused on supporting PMSF’s growth under new leadership as the organization seeks a new CEO.
Reflections & Personal Insights
For Denise, the most rewarding part of serving on the board is contributing to something bigger than her immediate family while doing it all for her family.
Particularly impactful are the face-to-face family conferences, where she sees firsthand the strength and unity of the PMSF community. She recalls the 2023 Paris conference as a highlight, providing resources and support to families in an unforgettable setting.
Denise wishes more people understood the complexities of Phelan-McDermid syndrome and the importance of donations, no matter the amount.
Fun & Personal Tidbits
Outside of PMSF, Denise enjoys ice hockey, golf, riding motorcycles, staying active, and attending live concerts. These activities help her stay present and recharge her energy and laughter!
Interesting Fact: Denise has moved over 25 times, lived in three countries, and speaks conversational German (and a little French!). Fun fact #2: She plays ice hockey!
To learn more about our leadership team, visit pmsf.org/leadership.