Denise Gitsham

Denise is a lover of people, an evangelist, and an ENFJ. Her ministry, while never vocational, has spanned nearly two decades in the legal, political and entrepreneurial spheres.  The only child of immigrants – a Chinese mother and a Canadian father – Denise was raised at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. Her Tiger Mother taught her to speak fluent Mandarin Chinese (and play the piano, and get perfect test scores!) in her formative years, and she has spent much of her life doubling down on her Chinese heritage, by living and working in China, and eating more Chinese food than recommended daily allowances suggest.

After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1999, Denise moved to Austin, Texas to work for then-Governor George W. Bush. She followed the President to Washington DC in 2000, and fell in love with public service while working at the White House, the US Department of Justice, and the US Senate. A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Denise did a brief and painful stint as an attorney at an international law firm. Today, she’s a recovering attorney and a small business owner living in San Diego.

Most mornings, you’ll find Denise training for road races and triathlons somewhere along California’s breathtaking coast, with her spoiled Golden Retriever, Jack. After 40 years of running races solo, she’s looking forward to having a new training partner at her side - Josh, who she cannot wait to marry this Spring.