Morgan Dene Oliver

Dene Oliver is Chief Executive Officer of OliverMcMillan, one of the largest and most forward-thinking mixed-use development companies. The award-winning firm, known for revitalizing communities through real estate development, has designed, developed and manages more than eight million square feet of mixed-use projects, with a total project value exceeding $3 billion. The firm will celebrate its 35th year in business in 2013.

Currently OliverMcMillan has the capability to acquire and complete stalled developments. New or formerly stalled projects in OliverMcMillan’s pipeline are valued at $2 billion. They include: Symphony, a 400-unit luxury condominium tower with retail and luxury auto dealerships located in Honolulu; Buckhead Atlanta, a 1.5 million square-foot, mixed-use development with retail, restaurants, hotel, office and residential towers; River Oaks District in Houston, 650 square feet of luxury retail, dining, office and residences; and 399 Fremont, 452 units of luxury apartments located in San Francisco.

Dene founded OliverMcMillan in 1978 with life-long friend Jim McMillan when the two San Diego natives began work on what was to become an AIA-award winning portfolio of redevelopment projects in their hometown. In the 1990s, OliverMcMillan’s work in the Gaslamp quarter brought the firm widespread recognition for the re-gentrification of parts of downtown San Diego. Always following the guiding principle that their projects must make a difference for the community and the area’s residents, OliverMcMillan has gone on to build successful, complex, large-scale urban developments. Approaching each project with respect for the surrounding architecture and local culture, the firm works to create places that will become the classic neighborhoods of tomorrow.

Dene received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics from the School of Business Administration at the University of California at Berkeley. He is a graduate the University of Southern California School of Law, and attended the University of Southern California Graduate School Of Business Administration. He began his career practicing real estate and business law at the firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton& Scripps.

Dene is active in both professional and community organizations. A member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI), he is a frequent speaker at industry events. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the $600 million San Diego Convention Center and he headed the expansion committee for the Convention Center. He is the recipient of The Downtown San Diego Partnership 1997 Founders Award as well as the same organization’s 2001 Humanitarian Award. He was a member of the 1995 America’s Cup Board of Directors. Dene is the Chair of San Diego’s 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.