Denise Podnar

Denise Podnar is a seasoned professional in business development and partnership management, currently serving as a Climatebase Fellow at Climatebase since March 2024. Previously, Denise held the position of Manager of Chef Partnerships and Alliances at Progress Chef from July 2018 to December 2023, overseeing partnerships that contributed to 32% of the company's revenue and driving strategies for key alliances with Microsoft, AWS, and Google. Denise has a proven track record of enhancing co-sell activities, launching marketplace projects, and revitalizing technical partner programs, achieving significant revenue targets and partnership expansions. Prior to Progress Chef, Denise gained diverse experience in entrepreneurial roles and business management from various organizations, including founding the Lily Pad Preschool and managing operations for Louise Estates and Hi-Top Productions. Denise holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management Information Systems from Washington State University.