Denise Pinkston has over 35 years of experience in real estate including acquisitions, asset and construction management, marketing, leasing, planning/entitlements, transit and green building program development, and public affairs. Denise has been recognized for her leadership as the recipient of the BIA Bay Area Advocate of the Year (2018), the East Bay Jobs Housing Coalition Legacy Award (2018) with recognition from the California State Assembly and Senate.  She has also been honored as a Woman of Influence in Real Estate by Globe Street (2018) and the SF Business Times (2012, 2014, 2016).

Prior to TMG:  Denise directed Current Planning, Code Enforcement, Housing, and Redevelopment as the Marin County Planning Services Coordinator, and a planning/development consultant, and an instructor in planning and real estate at San Francisco State University and Mills College.

Denise has led policy and program development to improve life in the Bay Area and California in a number of capacities:

• Founder and Chair emerita the Casita Coalition dedicated to expanding the development of ADUs and neighborhood scale homes in every community
• Founder and past Chief Executive and Board Chair for Mountain last-mile Caltrain shuttle MVGO www.MVgo.org. 
• Former Chair of the Emeryville TMA operator of the EmeryGoRound last mile BART shuttle;
• Former Chair Bay Area Council Housing and Sustainable Development Committee where she wrote and lobbied transformational State ADU laws;
• Chair and Vice Chair Berkeley Zoning Board
• Member of committees dedicated to improving housing and quality of life in the Bay Area including SPUR Housing Committee; ABAG/MTC Committee to House the Bay Area (CASA), the Bay Area Council Public Safety Committee, the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Partnership.

Denise attended the University of California at Berkeley where she earned a B.A. in History, and a Masters in City and Regional Planning.