Profile:  Denise Cabrera
    CABRERA.JPG (20135 bytes)  Denise was named chief of bureau for the Baltimore bureau of the Associated Press this summer. With that appointment, she became the first black woman to lead an AP bureau. Denise has worked at the AP Washington bureau for 13 years, as a local newswoman, Capitol Hill and consumer reporter, metro editor, and news editor before being named Baltimore bureau chief. Prior to joining AP, she worked for NBC News and The Washington Times, where she was a copy editor and assistant foreign editor. A native New Yorker, she currently lives in Prince George’s County, but plans to move to be closer to the office.

PERSONAL:
Born May 27, 1952. My husband and I will celebrate out 25th wedding anniversary in October. We have one child, a daughter, Nia, who is 10.

How would you describe yourself? "I’m outgoing, ambitious and very concerned about children and their future."

EDUCATION:
I have a bachelor of arts degree in English from Adelphi University in Garden City, Long Island. I am a former English teacher so journalism is my second profession. I decided to prove wrong the old adage "Those who can do, those who can’t teach."

PROFESSIONAL:
Favorite part of job: "Managing other people and watching them grow, probably remnants of the teacher in me."

Least favorite part of job: "Devising, planning and monitoring the budget."

Biggest challenge of job: "Producing high quality state reports that satisfy newspaper and broadcast member needs and interests consistently."

Main benefit you derive from MDDC membership: "Staying in touch with AP’s core newspaper members."

FUN:
Fantasy job: "Owning and running a quilt shop."

Favorite music: "Gospel"

Favorite car and car you drive now: "I drive a Grand Prix and I really like our other family car, a Toyota Avalon with the works. My favorite thing involving driving wouldn’t be any particular car but would be to have a full-time 24/7 driver."

Favorite TV show: "West Wing"

Hobbies: "Sewing, quilting, gardening"

Favorite vacation: "My favorite vacation was to Disney World. I’m just a kid at heart."

How you would most like to spend one day: "Sleeping or relaxing on the beach, eating and sewing."

Favorite quotation: "Some men see things as they are and say why, I dream things that never were and say why not?" - RFK