THE ASPIRE BLOG

Meet Denise McDonald, the practice manager who oversees Aspire Indiana Health’s major substance use disorder facilities, Mockingbird Hill Recovery Center in Anderson and Progress House in downtown Indianapolis. Mockingbird Hill opened two years ago, while Progress House is the state’s oldest and largest recovery residence, serving men with SUD since 1961.

With two years under her belt at Aspire, Denise has managed to make Aspire a home and help others feel the same way. She knew from her career experience prior to Aspire that her calling was with children and adult services. Coming to Aspire has given her the place to do what she loves for the people who need it.

“I love giving and helping people,” McDonald says. 

Not only does she help people through the work she does for the company, but Denise coaches girls’ basketball in Indianapolis at Pike High School. She played basketball all the way through high school and went to Murray State on a full ride athletic scholarship. 

(Fun fact: She won the state championship in shot put for her school in 1997!) 

While at Murray State, she got her bachelor’s degree in sports management and then went into special education after graduation. Subbing in schools, working in group homes and coaching basketball helped her to realize how much working with children means to her. She travels for basketball with her son Kase and loves to spend time with him outside of work as much as she can.

One particular moment that has stuck with Denise has been when she first met Barbara Scott, the outgoing President & Executive Officer at Aspire, at the Progress House golf fundraiser when Denise first started at Aspire. She was shocked to see the leader of a large corporation be so involved with the company’s mission – not only on a professional level, but a personal level. 

Denise says, “I felt welcomed by her and everyone else I’ve come in contact with working here at Aspire, and am amazed at how helpful everyone is.”