The Congress communications initiative organized by Common Ground Public Relations generated media coverage far beyond what the Congress organizers envisioned. The media coverage was excellent and conveyed the full diversity of the research, from eight plenary lecturers and 324 invited speakers from six continents, to numerous local, state, national, and international press. Common Ground Public Relations was excellent in spreading the word to the world that Missouri is an international leader in plant research and biotechnology and a formidable player in the life sciences arena.

-Perry Gustafson, Chair, 9th
International Plant Molecular Biology Congress


Denise Bentele

Denise oversees public relations consulting for Common Ground clients and coordinates account staff development. Her public relations experience includes business-to-business communications, healthcare communications, brand marketing and crisis management for a variety of industries. With APR accreditation by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Denise is recognized as a leader in the public relations field.

Her corporate communications responsibilities include employee communications, media relations and crisis management for companies including, The State of Missouri Department of Economic Development, Esse Health/Essence, Monsanto, Disney, Eli Lilly, UnitedHealth Group, Southwest Bank of St. Louis, Bethesda Health Group, Thompson Street Capital Partners, Brown Smith Wallace, and several others. She received a coveted PRSA Silver Anvil for crisis communications with the Sisters of Mercy Health System at their Arkansas health facility.

Denise’s crisis communications training is based on SuperVoice – the respected program of the petroleum industry – and has been tested in situations ranging from a ruptured gasoline pipeline and subsequent environmental threat; to the failed merger of two U.S. airlines; successful Chapter 11 reorganizations; and international environmental issues.

She is a past-president of the St. Louis chapter of PRSA; served as ethics chair for the chapter; is a member of The Counselors Academy; attended the Sedona Roundtable of Public Relations Agency Executives; has served as strategic planning committee member for the Council of PR Firms; and is a prior board member for the St. Louis Press Club. She is a member of the Rockwood School District student nutrition and fitness committee and has served on the board of Women Support and Community Services.

Denise has a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.