Dena earned her BA from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and her MBA from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.  She serves on non-profit boards and advisory committees offering expertise on major gift solicitation strategies for capital projects, building a case for support, and professional recruitment and development for fundraisers.  Dena was selected as a 2014 Top 40 Under 40 honoree by Hampton Roads Inside Business Journal for her role in the $30M capital campaign for Eastern Virginia Medical School and her volunteerism in the Hampton Roads community.

Dena is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and holds a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certificate. She is currently a CFRE Ambassador for CFRE International, helping more fundraising professionals attain certification.  She is the President of the Collier County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and sits on the board of the League of Women Voters in Collier County.  Dena resides in south Florida with her husband, Dave, and their three children.