As a Director at Hall Strategies, Alex Denis brings an unmatched blend of journalistic integrity, public-sector insight, and media savvy to the world of strategic communications. A six-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and national Edward R. Murrow recipient, Alex spent nearly two decades building trust with audiences by telling stories that matter—from the red carpets of New York City to the heart of disaster zones in Tennessee.

Most recently at the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), she served as the Assistant Chief for Public Affairs and Strategic Communications and as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Governor, TDOT Commissioner, and the senior leadership team. There she modernized the agency’s communications initiatives to increase public reach, transparency and rapid public response. She helped lead the public campaign in support of the Tennessee Transportation Modernization Act, a historic and innovative policy to enhance mobility for the future of Tennessee.

A change maker during her time in the public sector, Alex guided public communications during high-stakes emergencies and launched initiatives like TDOT-TV, a state-wide internal television program. She’s known for making complex issues accessible and compelling – earning the confidence of both state leaders and the public.

Before her time in government, Alex was a familiar face in millions of homes. In Nashville, she led coverage of the 2020 tornadoes, the Waverly floods, and the Christmas Day bombing. Prior to that, she helped launch CBS New York’s 24-hour streaming news platform and became a voice in traffic safety awareness through Project Yellow Light—her efforts even landing her on billboards in Times Square.

A Florida native, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida with a degree in Mass Communications. Alex now brings her deep experience and storytelling instinct to Hall Strategies, helping clients connect with audiences through authenticity, clarity, and strategy. She leads clients in media relations, crisis communications, spokesperson services, video production, and in the initiation and execution of regional and statewide strategic campaigns leveraging her deep connections throughout Tennessee amongst media and stakeholders. She understands what earns attention—and more importantly, what earns trust.

She is married to a West Point graduate and combat veteran Infantry Officer of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, and they have two children.

Where you’re from: The Tampa Bay area.

Free time: Most of our free time is spent with our children. Between their variety of extracurriculars, you can find us at a sporting event near you. 

How do you give back (volunteer, non-profits?): Supporting military members as well as first responders is important to me. Having been with my husband through combat deployments, there’s a personal understanding of the strain it places on families. That experience drives ongoing involvement, including hosting annual fundraisers for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and supporting local efforts through Operation Stand Down. It’s a way to stay connected and contribute to a community that has given so much. 

Did you know: I’m born on Christmas Day. 

Favorite thing about (or to do in) Tennessee: Honestly, as much as I love the live music and all the talent in Tennessee, nothing beats a day on the lake fishing. It’s my favorite kind of quiet. I grew up in rural Florida, so being outdoors with some dirt on my boots just feels right.