Staff & Trustees

Denise Cooper joined the Rebuild SoCal Partnership Trustee board in January 2024, representing the Southern California Contractors Association.

Denise and her husband Hod started Cooper Engineering, Inc. (CEI) in 1988. Based out of Corona, CA, CEI has developed into a subcontractor specializing in machine-extruded concrete projects. CEI strongly focuses on partnering with general contractors in order to develop and ultimately implement new forms of concrete technology.

Denise serves as President and CEO of Cooper Engineering, Inc. She manages all aspects of CEI’s operations, including implementing high-level strategies, financial oversight, safety, and business development. Under her leadership, the company has grown exponentially. As a family-run business, working with all three of her children is her greatest love and also, at times, her biggest challenge.

Much of Denise’s time outside of CEI is spent focusing on public policies that affect the public works construction industry. With that broader public policy focus in mind, Denise has been a board member of the Southern California Contractors Association (SCCA) since 2015 and served as the second-ever female President of the association in 2020. In 2021, Denise was presented with the VIP award by the SCCA because of her leadership and engagement in the industry. She serves on SCCA’s Legislative Committee and chairs its Subcommittee on Transportation Policy, focusing on transportation funding issues and interviewing statewide transportation candidates appointed by the governor.

In 2021, Denise was presented the “Ethel Birchland Lifetime Achievement” award by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. This honor is awarded to women who provide inspiring leadership and have successfully demonstrated a track record of beneficial service to the transportation construction industry.

Denise graduated from Cal State Fullerton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a minor in Business. Denise produces and cohosts a weekly podcast called “Two Average Girls” with her long-time friend and former news anchor Ann Pulice. She loves spending time with her grandchildren, traveling, playing golf, and traveling to Formula 1 races all over the world.