Denise Durel | United Way of Southwest Louisiana

Denise Durel

President and CEO

337.433.1088

Denise Durel began her experience in the non-profit arena as a volunteer working with various agencies trying to better the community of Broussard where she was a working mom busy raising her family. Little did she know that her involvement with the Muscular Dystrophy Association would lead to a 20-year professional career with that organization.

Starting as a Program Coordinator handling special events in outlying parishes, including the creation of the CITGO MDA golf classic in Lake Charles, she then became the District Director overseeing the 15 parishes that make up Southwest Louisiana. After the success of achieving the #1 Director position in the country, she was named the Director of the Greater Cincinnati area. While in Cincinnati she went on to manage a region for MDA that included 8 different district areas within 4 states. After 20 years with MDA, she was named the Development Director for United Cerebral Palsy and was introduced to the United Way system.

In 2009 she relocated to Lake Charles to accept the position of President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Louisiana, a position that she continues to hold today.

Denise Durel was recognized by Acadiana Profile Magazine in December 2023 as a Steel Magnolia

Listen to Denise speak with Calcasieu Parish District Attorney Stephen Dwight on International Women's Day on his Calcasieu Crime Cast podcast