Denise Podnar
About Denise Podnar
Denise Podnar serves as the Head of Partnerships & Alliances for Chef Products at Progress Chef, where she has significantly contributed to partner relations and revenue growth since 2021. Previously, she worked at Chef Software in various sales roles, where she developed expertise in managing partnerships and exceeding sales targets.
Current Role at Progress Chef
Denise Podnar serves as the Head of Partnerships & Alliances for Chef Products at Progress Chef. She has held this position since 2021 and is based in Seattle, Washington. In her role, she leads partner relations and distribution strategies, focusing on key partnerships with major technology companies such as Microsoft, AWS, and Google. Under her leadership, the company achieved $1.3 million in recurring annual revenue following a corporate restructure in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Previous Experience at Chef Software
Prior to her current role, Denise Podnar worked at Chef Software in various capacities. She served as a Commercial Account Executive from 2019 to 2020 in the Greater Seattle Area, where she managed client relationships and sales strategies. Earlier, she worked as a Sales Development Representative from 2018 to 2019, also in the Greater Seattle Area. During her tenure, she contributed to significant sales initiatives and marketplace launches.
Achievements in Partnerships and Revenue Generation
Denise Podnar has a proven track record in driving revenue through partnerships. She exceeded marketplace launch targets for Chef products within Azure and AWS marketplaces, achieving $800,000 in sales against a $500,000 projection. Additionally, she enhanced co-sell activities to maintain Global Tier Partner status with Microsoft Azure, which secured $35,000 in marketing funds and resulted in $3 million in partner sales.
Project Management and Revenue Forecasting
Denise managed the end-to-end build and enablement for a global consulting firm, with a project scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2024. This project is anticipated to generate $500,000 in revenue in its first year. She directed a team that was responsible for 32% of company revenue, supporting the worldwide partner ecosystem during an acquisition process.
Educational Background
Denise Podnar studied at Washington State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. Her academic focus included Marketing and Management Information Systems, providing her with a strong foundation for her career in partnerships and sales.