Morgan Dene Oliver

Dene is Chairman of OliverBuchanan Group and 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 $4 billion.

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 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. OliverMcMillan was always guided by the principle that their projects must make a difference for the community and the area’s residents.

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 of 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 a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the 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 was the Chair of San Diego’s 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and continues to work on the goal of ending the plight of the chronic homeless. 

Dene began his career at the age of 18 as a surfer doing graphic design and silkscreening t-shirts. He has never stopped producing great design.