Mirroring her official business slogan, “Fearless—Focused,” Denise A. Bode is an attorney with pinpoint attention to detail sharpened by more than 45 years as an authority in the legal field. Having solidified her foundation by earning a Master of Laws in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center, a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Oklahoma, Ms. Bode is the managing partner and president of Constitution Partners LLC focusing on law and taxation, tax and trade policy advice and counsel, energy, the environment, food, agriculture, coalition building, and best practices for trade associations and other nonprofit organizations.
It has been well documented and witnessed by colleagues that Ms. Bode dynamically brings forth decades of crafting, implementing, and advocating for policy and regulatory proposals at every level of government. Her close connections to policymakers and decision-makers are the result of an extensive career pushing for best practices for the public and private sectors. Thus, she is often relied upon by members of Congress and chief-level executives to provide counsel and guidance on a plethora of issues. Ms. Bode has testified before Congress and has made extensive public speaking appearances, including on network and cable television. After a long, storied, and impressive career, she founded Constitution Partners LLC because she wanted to work with fewer clients on a more personal level. As a result, Ms. Bode makes a significant difference in the life of each client, who receives the benefit of her vast experience. In the coming years, she plans to recruit a team of young professionals to mentor and carry on her firm’s legacy of quality service, attention to detail, and professionalism.
Lauded often for her work and consistent commitment to excellence throughout her career, Ms. Bode has received three Hill Top Lobbyists awards, including one in 2023. Among her many other recognitions, she won the Byliner Award for Government from The Association for Women in Communications and the Energy Award for Public Service from Hearst Newspapers in addition to having been named Top Association CEO in the United States by CEO Update, Woman of the Year by the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment, among the 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington by Washingtonian, the State Official of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies, and Woman of the Year by The Journal Record in Oklahoma City. One of Ms. Bode’s most notable accomplishments was helping to pass the first state gift tax reform under former Oklahoma Governor and former U.S. Sen. David Boren, signed by President Ronald Reagan. She also was involved in the first regional transmission tariff approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to have a postage tariff for the sale of electricity for the Southwest Power Pool.
Ms. Bode believes her success is the result of her passion for helping others and for her profession. She is grateful to her parents for their extraordinary influence and for always instilling in her that she could do anything, encouraging her to pursue higher education, including her Master of Laws in taxation because of their strong involvement and interest in the tax and trade arena. Her mother, Virginia Durham, was a tax accountant while her late father, Paul Durham, was an international tax lawyer. Moreover, at age 12, Ms. Bode was told that women were not allowed to be pages in the U.S. Senate, prompting Ms. Bode’s father to create a petition for her and her friend, Julie Pryce, seeking to promote women in the U.S. Senate. It worked, as Julie Pryce became one of the first female pages. Ms. Bode learned very young, therefore, that people could make a difference in government, which inspired her lifetime career in policymaking.
Before starting Constitution Partners LLC, Ms. Bode was managing partner at Michael Best Strategies, chief executive officer at the American Wind Energy Association, commissioner and chairman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, chief executive officer of the American Clean Skies Foundation, tax counsel and equity partner at Gold and Liebengood in Washington, D.C., legal counsel to U.S. Sen. David Boren, and natural resources assistant to Oklahoma Governor David L. Boren. Today, she is a lifetime member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and a founding member of the Women’s Tax Coalition in Washington, D.C. Civically, Ms. Bode was chairman of the Avalon Foundation, a board member of the Energy Institute in the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma, and chair of the selection committee for The Rhodes Scholarship.
Ms. Bode is a Tulsa, Oklahoma, native who enjoys kayaking and painting in her leisure time. She has been married to John W. Bode for more than 46 years and is the proud mother of Sean Bode. The family also includes Labrador retrievers Boomer and Sooner.