Who is Denise?

Denise R. Gabel is the chief innovation officer at the Filene Research Institute. She oversees Filene’s innovation efforts—most noticeably the prestigious i³ program—and works to ensure a pipeline of solutions is in place to connect the past and the future for credit unions and consumers. 

An in-demand speaker and recognized innovation catalyst, Denise travels the nation encouraging credit union audiences to respond to the needs of consumers and transform ideas into innovative strategies to strengthen the credit union system.

Denise has been interviewed widely: from National Public Radio to the El Paso Times, and she is frequently cited in the Credit Union Times and Credit Union Journal. Her ideas are published in the Credit Union National Association’s Management Enrichment Training Program and the Credit Union Mortgage Lending Strategies handbook. She authored the Filene Research Institute’s Key Findings: Innovation through Collaboration and Key Findings: Blueprints for Innovation.

In 2008 Denise graduated from Harvard Business School’s Women’s Leadership Forum. She is also a certified trainer for the Institute of Financial Education and a faculty member for CUNA’s Management Schools. 

Previously, Denise served as Vice President – Strategic Direction for the Spokane Teachers Credit Union leading strategic planning, innovation, and corporate governance. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Eastern Washington University and a high honors graduate of Western CUNA Management School.

Denise has been with Filene since 2006. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, Dennis.

Download Denise's current bio and photo here.