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A veteran banking and investment leader will serve as keynote speaker at West Liberty University's upcoming spring commencement.
Denise M. Penz will address graduates and guests at the May 6 ceremony, which will take place at 11 a.m. in the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex. Approximately 355 students are expected to graduate.
Penz is a West Liberty alumna and co-founder, CEO and vice chairman of the Preferred Legacy Trust Co., established in 2020. She began her banking career in 1996 after serving in the Navy. Penz has led all areas of banking, including trust, private banking, brokerage, retail banking, mortgage lending and all support areas of the commercial bank at both community banks and large regional banks. In 2009, she founded and was principal of a private equity group to purchase and then operate a commercial bank in Ohio, until its sale in 2017.
She received a bachelor of science degree in accounting and management from WLU, a master's of business administration from Wheeling University and a graduate level certificate from Cannon Trust Schools.
She is 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 Beyond BASIC and president of the capital campaign committee for the YWCA-Wheeling.
She resides in Summerville, South Carolina.
Doors open for seating at commencement at 9:30 a.m. and each graduate will receive five tickets for the event. The ceremony will be streamed live on Topper Station and will be broadcast live on social media for those unable to attend. Parking will be available for guests behind the ASRC.