Denise M. Penz is the co-founder, CEO, and Vice-Chairman of The Preferred Legacy National Trust Bank, established in 2020. She began her banking career in 1996 after proudly serving in the United States Navy. Denise has led all areas of banking, including trust, private banking, brokerage, retail banking, mortgage lending, and all the support areas of a commercial bank at both community banks and large regional banks. In 2009, she founded and led a private equity group to purchase and then operate a commercial bank in Ohio, until its sale in 2017. Denise received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Management from West Liberty State College, a Master’s of Business Administration from Wheeling Jesuit University, and a graduate-level certificate from Cannon Trust Schools. She is very active in her community as a member of the board of trustees for A Special Wish Foundation, a member of The Women’s Giving Circle, a founding member of Women’s Impact, a board member of the West Liberty University Foundation, a board member of Beyond BASIC, and president of the capital campaign committee for the YWCA-Wheeling.