Dene' Starks-McGee

Technical Assistance Program Team Lead

Dene' Starks-McGee is an accomplished educator and business leader with over 15 years of experience in workforce development, entrepreneurship education, and insurance operations. As an Adjunct Faculty member at University of the People, Dene' has delivered equity-centered entrepreneurship education to over 2,500 adult learners with a remarkable 98% success rate. Her professional journey includes leadership roles directing underwriting operations at Berkshire Hathaway Guard and managing a $25M commercial book at Nationwide Insurance, as well as managing over $2M in grants and contracts. Dene' holds a Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology from Guilford School of Theology, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a BA in Organizational Communication from Cal State Sacramento. Her deep expertise in workforce development, combined with her passion for equity and entrepreneurship, positions her as a transformative leader ready to support cannabis businesses and communities.