About Denise Cusack
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I’m a Clinical Herbalist, Certified Aromatherapist (MIFPA), Permaculture & Advanced Social Systems Designer, and Natural Perfumer with over 17 years of clinical experience, blending expertise in herbalism, aromatherapy, permaculture design, hydrosols, flower essences, and first aid with a passion for holistic health and regenerative agriculture. My work interweaves mental health, trauma response, disaster relief, and health justice into transformative products and practices that spotlight aromatic and medicinal plants across gardens, kitchens, and natural perfumery.
Beyond the lab and the garden, I bring over 35 years of business management experience in nonprofit management, marketing, and brand design—from spearheading strategic campaigns for Fortune 50 companies to nurturing local, eco-friendly ventures. As an artist, writer, photographer, educator, and leader, I fuse creative expression with sustainable practices to drive impactful change. Dedicated to cultivating wild and cultivated medicine and preserving our cultural legacy, I continue to transform spaces and lives through innovative design, compelling storytelling, and a deep commitment to a healthier, more equitable future. |
Experience
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CO-OWNER, NATURAL PERFUMER, ANALU PERFUME | CURRENT
OWNER, WHOLLY ROOTED, LLC | Current • Founded and manage a unique permaculture and regenerative living farm dedicated to sustainable development and active community education. • Write and contribute to print and digital magazines on herbal health and aromatherapy, sharing research-backed, innovative practices in medicinal herb cultivation and plant sustainability. • Develop and lead diverse educational programs, including hands‐on plant walks, workshops on growing medicinal herbs, and sustainability seminars. • Cultivate and donate medicinal herbs through strategic partnerships with the HWB US Donation Network. • Attain recognized status as a United Plant Savers (UpS) Botanical Sanctuary and Certified Wildlife Habitat, protecting endangered and at-risk medicinal plants. • Serve as the heart of an herbal and plant education center committed to nurturing both community wellbeing and environmental stewardship. HERBALISTS WITHOUT BORDERS | Executive Director (2017-2022, 2024-2025) Co-Executive Director (April 2025 – Current) • Direct the vision and daily operations of an international nonprofit dedicated to providing holistic herbal care. • Manage comprehensive programs that encompass membership growth, policy oversight, volunteer coordination, disaster relief, free clinics, fundraising, grant writing, and financial budgeting. • Spearhead initiatives such as the US Seed Grant Program and the US Donation Distribution Network, achieving dramatic growth in membership (600%+ increase) and fundraising (1,300%+ increase) along with significant social media expansion (59,900 Instagram followers, 27,000 Facebook followers). • Recognized with the Daily Point of Light Award for sustained excellence in community service. VETERANS RESILIENCY HOLISTIC CLINIC | Clinical Herbalist (November 2017 – September 2022) • Volunteered as a Clinical Herbalist and Aromatherapist to support veterans coping with PTSD, combining clinical expertise with compassionate care. • Adapted service delivery during COVID-19 by seamlessly transitioning from in-person sessions to virtual consultations and care packages, ensuring veterans received consistent, tailored herbal support. WRITING & CREATIVE SERVICES • Provide professional writing, editing, and content creation for a spectrum of businesses, developing custom articles, recipes, product descriptions, press releases, and social media content. • Blend creative storytelling with technical precision across various mediums, ensuring every project resonates with clarity and impact. CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MARKETING DIRECTOR, & ART DIRECTOR (1999–2025) • Lead creative strategy and visual communication for direct marketing, print advertising, website design, branding, packaging, and retail interior design. • Guid end-to-end projects—from initial concept and storyboarding through production and launch—for Fortune 50 corporations as well as local, eco-oriented businesses. • Execute robust visual design, copywriting, content creation, and multimedia editing projects using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, DaVinci Resolve, GarageBand, iMovie, and other essential platforms. • Leverage over 30 years of industry experience to manage creative teams and drive successful campaigns that elevate brand presence and market position. EDUCATION • Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management, Columbia College Chicago – Minors: Fine Art/Design & Audio Engineering – Focus on the intersection of arts, entertainment, and nonprofit management • Professional Nonprofit Management, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee • Grantsmanship Training Program, The Grantsmanship Center • Permaculture and Advanced Social Systems Design Program, Permaculture Women’s Guild – PDC (Completed Dec 2021) An energetic leader committed to integrating business acumen with holistic health practices, sustainable design, and creative innovation, I continuously seek opportunities to blend art, science, and community impact into every facet of my work. |
Certified Permaculture and Social Systems DesignerAwards:Daily Point of Light Award, 2021
https://www.pointsoflight.org/awards/herbalist-dedicates-life-to-providing-accessible-health-and-wellness-to-the-worlds-underserved/ 
Volunteer WorkLilium Initiative, 2023
Board of Directors, President Chair, Communication Committee Chair, Plant Conservation Committee IFPA, International Federation of Professional Aromatherapy TRUSTEE 2024-2025, Marketing Committee ICAN, Fellow Fellow on the ICAN professional aromatherapy community Herbalists Without Borders - 2017-present Currently Volunteer as US Donation Distribution Coordinator, US Seed Grant Coordinator. I am a Certified Aromatherapist and Clinical Herbalist and formulate aromatherapy products for US distribution throughout network several times per month. Chief Editor, Without Borders Magazine I manage a quarterly 100+ page magazine including managing writers, articles, themes, deadlines, and design of the publication. I also contribute articles each issue and edit the articles of all submissions with a team of volunteers. Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic 2017-2022 Volunteer Clinical Herbalist & Aromatherapist, VRHC I volunteered in this free clinic, working with veterans who have experienced PTSD, monthly for 5 years, as herbalist & aromatherapist. November 2017-September 2022 American Herbalists Guild, 2020-Current, Ethics Review Advisory Committee AHG Board of Directors, 2022 Chair (stepped down in 2022) 2020-2021 Assistant Chair 2018-2021 Secretary 2018-2022 Co-Chair Diversity Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee 2018-2022 Governance Committee IM4US, Board of Directors, 2021-2022 Co-Chair Membership Committee, 2021-2022 #happyflowerproject 2015-2017 Moms in Madison 2003-2017 MPNA, 2006-2012 Madison Wellness Collective 2016-2017 Education & Writing CV Download
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Education/Experience
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I have thousands of hours of education in nonprofit management, herbalism, permaculture, aromatherapy, plant conservation, environmental education, design, health justice, diversity and inclusion, crisis management, first aid, CPR, psychological first aid, international aid, trauma, and more. This listing is just a few.
Courses:Mental Health / Trauma-Informed Practice
Sustainability:
This Is just a few of the courses and programs I have completed. I have over 23 years and over 5,000 additional hours of continuing education in hydrosols, herbalism, aromatherapy, aromatic medicine, holistic nutrition/natural nutrition, whole foods, trauma, holistic health, youth education, permaculture, humanitarian aid, CPR/AED certified, first aid training, clinical experience, nonprofit work, and more. I am usually enrolled in a few classes at a time, and am always on a quest to learn more. If you are interested in a full CV listing of completed coursework, schools of herbal and aromatherapy education, and experience hours, please email me. Software: I have experience in many design, management, and marketing communication applications including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, iMovie, Garage Band, DaVinci Resolve, Canva, Weebly, Wordpress, PowerPoint, KeyNote, Procreate, Mailchimp, Adobe Lightroom, Google Suite, and so on. |
(Social Permaculture, Regenerative Agriculture
Teaching/Interviews
Courses: Nutrition/Food
Courses: Conference Education & Intensives
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Random Bits
~I am almost six feet tall.
~I am a virgo (or, a Goat - neither surprising anyone)
~I volunteer for health justice and herbal nonprofits
~I use permaculture and organic principles in life and garden
~I embroider, work with clay, can, pickle, preserve, paint, draw, sing, write music, knit, dye, and make things.
~I worked as Creative Director for decades - magazines, direct marketing, interactive design, illustration, and print design.
~I grow hundreds of varieties of plants - including medicinals - every year in my gardens.
~We roast our own coffee.
~We have chickens.
~I am a speed reader, so I can get through dozens of books per week. And I do.
~I am INTJ.
~My husband is 10 years younger than me.
~My husband is a genius. Literally.
~My children have never gone to school
~We are lifelong autodidacts and unschoolers
~I have RA, Sjogrens, and Lupus.
~We have an amazing sourdough starter
~We do extra challenging/hard crosswords for family fun every night
~I have a BA from Columbia College in Arts Business Administration with specializations in music, fine art & audio engineering and Nonprofit Cert from UW-Milwaukee.
~I am in a family of neurodiverse folks, and we see it as superpowers, not a negative.
~I have a photographic memory.
~I still work as a designer for people that align with my ethics - designing print materials, branding, websites, packaging, signage and even eBooks for small, eco-oriented organic businesses.
~I twirled fire and knives for years - opening for bands in Chicago.
~I was 35 when my first was born, 37 for my second.
~I love to write, paint, sing, and create.
~I respect my kids, love my kids, and LIKE my kids.
~My adult kids still like to hang out with me.
~I am a synesthete.
~I see everything in pictures.
~I am a virgo (or, a Goat - neither surprising anyone)
~I volunteer for health justice and herbal nonprofits
~I use permaculture and organic principles in life and garden
~I embroider, work with clay, can, pickle, preserve, paint, draw, sing, write music, knit, dye, and make things.
~I worked as Creative Director for decades - magazines, direct marketing, interactive design, illustration, and print design.
~I grow hundreds of varieties of plants - including medicinals - every year in my gardens.
~We roast our own coffee.
~We have chickens.
~I am a speed reader, so I can get through dozens of books per week. And I do.
~I am INTJ.
~My husband is 10 years younger than me.
~My husband is a genius. Literally.
~My children have never gone to school
~We are lifelong autodidacts and unschoolers
~I have RA, Sjogrens, and Lupus.
~We have an amazing sourdough starter
~We do extra challenging/hard crosswords for family fun every night
~I have a BA from Columbia College in Arts Business Administration with specializations in music, fine art & audio engineering and Nonprofit Cert from UW-Milwaukee.
~I am in a family of neurodiverse folks, and we see it as superpowers, not a negative.
~I have a photographic memory.
~I still work as a designer for people that align with my ethics - designing print materials, branding, websites, packaging, signage and even eBooks for small, eco-oriented organic businesses.
~I twirled fire and knives for years - opening for bands in Chicago.
~I was 35 when my first was born, 37 for my second.
~I love to write, paint, sing, and create.
~I respect my kids, love my kids, and LIKE my kids.
~My adult kids still like to hang out with me.
~I am a synesthete.
~I see everything in pictures.
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Memberships
American Botanical Council - Professional Member Alliance of International Aromatherapists- Professional Member National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy- Professional Member |
United Plant Savers - Botanical Sanctuary & Partner in Education Member Herbalists without Borders - Board Member American Herbalists Guild - Associate Member |
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Permaculture
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Find me at the Alliance of International Aromatherapists
Find me on the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy
I am insured through Alternative Balance.
*in progress
All material provided on this website is provided for informational or educational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your healthcare professional or physician.