Denise A. Smith

Denise A. Smith is a community-focused professional known for her results-driven leadership, creativity, and dynamic teamwork. She is recognized for delivering measurable outcomes while fostering meaningful connections, with a career and volunteer efforts that reflect exceptional service, profound dedication to her community, and a steadfast commitment to both people and purpose—a true example of leadership grounded in service, humility, and meaningful impact. Her work is rooted in collaboration, strategic vision, and bridge-building across sectors, uniting people, organizations, and resources to create lasting change.
As the Director of Philanthropy at Leadership Winston-Salem and a member of the Flagship Class of 2025, Denise leads fundraising, donor engagement, social media and content strategy, and community partnership initiatives to advance the organization’s mission of educating, connecting, and energizing leaders to serve and improve the community. She played a pivotal role in the organization’s 40th anniversary campaign, helping exceed its fundraising goal by raising over $100,000, and spearheaded several community networking events that strengthened engagement among alumni, donors, and local leaders. In her first year, she also helped raise over $690,000, enabling the INSIGHT and Flagship classes to achieve record-breaking class gift totals—the largest in Leadership Winston-Salem history.


Denise’s professional journey has been marked by success across multiple industries. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing from Winston-Salem State University. Her career includes roles as Communications Assistant for NASCAR at Keystone Marketing, Dual Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Hotels, managing sales operations across properties in North Carolina and Texas, and founder of N’Vision Consulting, leading initiatives in brand development, fundraising, philanthropy, donor support, special projects, and corporate event planning. Her areas of expertise include fundraising, philanthropy, relationship building, social media and content strategy, brand strategy and development, sales and marketing, administration, hospitality management, human resources, and innovative community-focused initiatives.

Denise’s leadership and impact have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Above and Beyond Award from the Winston-Salem Mayor’s Council for Persons with Disabilities, induction into Winston-Salem State University’s Top 40 Under 40 alumni, and national recognition in Hilton’s “Heart of Hilton” publication for leadership, guest service, and fostering supportive workplace cultures. During her tenure with Hilton, she earned multiple brand and regional honors, including the Spirit of the Garden Award, Director of Sales of the Year Merit Award, Director of Sales Success Award, and multiple Director of Sales of the Year nominations. She was a top performer in Hilton Garden Inn’s Grassroots Sales Blitz, placing first and second in the Southeast Region and generating over $4 million through combined projected and confirmed revenue. She also received the Black Achievers in Business and Industry Award for professional excellence and community impact. In 2026, Denise was honored as a Twin City Trailblazer Award recipient, recognizing her as a barrier-breaking leader whose contributions continue to uplift and strengthen the Winston-Salem community.

Beyond her professional work, Denise is an active member of the Winston-Salem State University National Alumni Association and local chapter. As a proud Ram, she provides philanthropic support to the university and donates her time and talents to students. She guides first-year students in defining and communicating their personal brand, emphasizing the importance of shaping their academic and professional trajectory early, and coaches them in identifying strengths, values, and passions, developing professional materials that reflect their aspirations, and setting intentional academic, professional, and personal goals. In addition, she mentors young women in the community, offering guidance, encouragement, and support.

A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Denise actively donates her time, talents, and resources to support the Winston-Salem Alumnae Chapter, serving on the Executive Board and participating in key committees, including the Social Action Committee. Her commitment is guided by a passion for civic engagement, community service, and social justice, informed by self-reflection and the needs of the community.

A native of Flint, Michigan, Denise is the proud mother of two daughters, Kaiyah and KaMari, and finds her greatest joy in the time she shares with her granddaughter, Haarlem Reign. Her professional leadership, philanthropic impact, mentorship, and years of dedicated service continue to make a lasting and transformative impact on the Winston-Salem community and the broader nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.