Ms. Peek has lived in Lansing since 1972 and graduated from Lansing Everett High School. She holds two Associates Degrees, one from Davenport University in Fashion Merchandising & Management, one from LCC in General Studies. In 2006 she received her BA from Northwood University in Marketing with a Minor in Business Management. In 2009 she received her Masters of Science Degree in Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire. She has been the Executive Director of the Entrepreneur Institute for the past sixteen years. In January 2016 she became an Adjunct Faculty Member at LCC teaching Marketing 200 and will be teaching Marketing 200 again this fall.
Her experience in sales & marketing includes, experience in the retail industry, advertising sales in electronic media (cable television & radio) and newspaper has assisted in her duties as the Executive Director. As the Executive Director she facilitates the credit before capital and business plan development training programs. She has been able to increase the exposure of the Entrepreneur Institute in the community and increase the services offered by the organization. In December of 2011 the Entrepreneur Institute became the regions only SBA Microloan Lender.
Accomplishments & Professional Development
Personal Accomplishments
May 1999 – March 2000 – Former board member of the Entrepreneur Institute
March 2000 – May 2000 – Interim Executive Director of the Entrepreneur Institute
May 2000 – Present EIM Executive Director
2001 – Capital Area Michigan Works Alumni of the Year!
2001 – Certificate of Achievement for “Distinguished Achievement” in “Individual Excellence in
Regional Cooperation” by the RED TEAM
2002 – Michigan Works! Outstanding Alumni Award
2005 – Career Woman of the Year, National Association of Career Women, Lansing Chapter
2011 – Catalyst of the Year, Michigan Emerging
2016 – Adjunct Faculty Member Lansing Community College
Professional Development – Certifications/International Trainings/Programs of Study
Certified NxLevel Business Plan Training Instructor – 9/01
Participant in Entrepreneurship Training Program: A Ghana-United States Exchange Accra, Ghana – 6/05
NeighborWorks America, Program of Study Management and Leadership Program – 9/06
Participant in the “Connecting the Linkages between Gender Equality and Economic Sustainability for Community Advancement and Capacity Building: A Women’s Empowerment Program,
Professional Fellows, South Africa & Tanzania – 9/13
Past Community Involvements
Guest Speaker for the American Marketing Association’s Regional Conference at LCC
Guest Speaker, MSHDA’s Affordable Housing Conference, Connecting Michigan Communities Annual Conference
LCC Alumni Committee Member,
Westside Commercial Association Business Development Committee Member
Facilitator/Business Consultant – BCI Entrepreneur Academy Workshops
Charter Member and Past President Elect, Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce Affiliate Chapter of the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce
Board Member, Community Reinvestment Fund
Consultant/Coach for the Athena PowerLink Network, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Learn more about Julie Powers and Greater Lansing Housing Coalition:
Website
Fan Page
LinkedIn – Denise Peek
