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Denise Hamilton
Speaker, Community Activist, and Entrepreneur.
Denise’s Professional Journey
Denise Hamilton lives by one guiding philosophy: life is meant to be lived without limits.
Fearless, determined, and endlessly driven, Denise thrives as a Property Manager/HOA Portfolio Manager and the Owner and Broker of Record for Denise Hamilton Realtors and Lone Star Living Apartment Locators. But her journey is much bigger than real estate. With more than three decades of relentless ambition, she has built a legacy defined by resilience, innovation, and extraordinary success.
A proud graduate of Texas Woman’s University with a degree in Business Administration—and an alumna of the elite Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program (Cohort 21)—Denise embodies the power of vision backed by action. She began in multifamily property management, quickly rising through the ranks to become a CAM-Certified Property Manager, Regional Supervisor, and Training Director for a major firm. When that company sold, she didn’t pause—she launched J&R Management, boldly specializing in single-family homes and pioneering programs that placed Section 8 tenants in quality housing. This groundbreaking work earned her the nickname “The Section 8 Lady” and inspired her to write Section 8 Made Simple: A Guide for Investors, which she shared with investors and sold while speaking at national real estate conferences.
Never content to stop at one success, Denise expanded into traditional real estate, becoming a licensed Realtor in Atlanta Georgia, and a licensed Real Estate Broker in West Virginia. She also stepped into new arenas of business, partnering in Marauder Marketing to help small businesses and nonprofits thrive with creative, affordable branding and marketing solutions. At the same time, she founded and now leads DHR Home Services Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to quality affordable housing and supportive resources.
Her professional credentials highlight her commitment to excellence:
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Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
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Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
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Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
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Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
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TREC-Certified Real Estate Instructor (Texas Real Estate Commission)
Denise is also a highly sought-after speaker, with a track record that includes presenting at Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad seminars in 2003 and 2004, guest appearances on the Changing World Views radio show, and contributions to KRLD Radio’s Real Estate Investment Hour.
Through every venture, Denise remains laser-focused on her mission: to empower others, create opportunities, and help people live their dream.
https://sites.google.com/view/section8bookforinvestors/home
Community Engagement
Denise’s passion for community activism was sparked early, dating back to her high school days. She fondly recalls her time at St. Luke’s Community United Methodist Church, where Pastor Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. instilled in her the true meaning of “community” and the importance of standing up, speaking out, and giving back.
That foundation paved the way for bold steps into public service. In 2014, Denise ran for Justice of the Peace, and in 2016, she campaigned for State Representative in District 89. Though she did not win either race, she made history as one of the first African-Americans to run on the Democratic ticket in Collin County—a pioneering achievement that underscored her trailblazing spirit.
Denise’s leadership came into sharp focus during a pivotal moment in 2014, when the City of Plano faced intense backlash over its Equal Rights Ordinance (ERO). Refusing to stand on the sidelines, she galvanized activists and advocates across the region, spearheading a successful campaign defending the ordinance. Her fearless advocacy earned recognition in the Dallas Morning News and commendation from Texas Wins, solidifying her reputation as a champion for equality and justice.
Her commitment didn’t stop there. To this day, Denise continues to lead the influential Facebook group People In Support of Equal Rights, ensuring the fight against discrimination remains strong, visible, and unrelenting.
Passion For Service
As the current President of Life Community Enrichment Foundation, she leads an organization that has distributed millions in random acts of kindness, transforming lives by meeting urgent needs when it matters most. She also serves as the Co-Founder and President of the Collin County Diversity Council (CCDC), where her leadership has been instrumental in advancing cultural diversity and inclusion across the region.
Her community involvement is both vast and impactful. Denise has:
- Serves on the Plano Juneteenth Planning Committee
- President of The Trails of Glenwood HOA
- Acted as Mistress of Ceremonies for the Collin County Association of Realtors’ Passport 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Event
- Mistress of Ceremonies for the Collin County LULAC celebration
- Board Member Plano Community Forum
- Led the Martin Luther King 2015 Plano Community Forum as Mistress of Ceremonies
- Spoken as a featured presenter at multiple Multicultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR) events
Her work has earned her an impressive collection of awards and honors, including:
- Plano Community Forum Civic Award
- Women Organizing Women (WoW) Leadership Award
- Women in Power International Ministers Cultural Diversity Award
- LIFT Instructor Appreciation Award
- Evolution Charter School Speaker Appreciation Award
- Dallas CASA Child Advocate recognition
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor distinction
- East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) Service Award
- SOCH Dallas Online Community Service Award
Denise’s impact extends beyond titles and awards. In 2005, during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, her tireless efforts to aid displaced families earned her recognition on NBC News, solidifying her role as a beacon of compassion and leadership in times of crisis.
A proud native Texan, Denise is also a devoted mother of three and grandmother of two. When she’s not leading, speaking, or serving, she finds peace and therapy with her beloved horse, Casper.
Her guiding mantra for 2025–26 reflects her forward-focused philosophy:
“I am in a mindset of better, not perfect. I seek incremental improvement every day. Perfection is the enemy of progress; progress is the friend of potential.”
Through every endeavor, Denise challenges others to rise higher, dream bigger, and live bolder. She believes perfection may be unrealistic, but excellence is always within reach—and she models that truth in everything she does.
While many speakers inspire and some provide perspective, Denise is among the rare few who challenge us to rethink what’s possible.