Denise graduated from the University of Minnesota-Waseca with an AAS degree in veterinary technology and became certified in 1989. She joined NURVC in 1990. Denise is a member of MAVT. Denise and her husband, Brian, have one daughter, Kara, and two boys, Ben and Andrew. Denise and her family have a dog, Ace, two cats, Lorraine and Lucy, and chickens. She enjoys sewing, camping, biking, walking, and volunteering for different organizations within the community. Denise is also a Fear-Free Certified Professional [citation].