A longtime Oregon resident, Dean Lee McKinney graduated from the University of Oregon in Eugene with a bachelor of arts in economics in 1994. Over the course of a career in property management that spans two decades, Dean Lee McKinney served nine years as assistant general manager of a hotel in Gold Beach, Oregon, and nine years as a manager with McKinney Properties in Medford, Oregon. After parting ways with this Medford-based real estate trust in 2014, Mr. McKinney returned his professional focus to the Gold Beach area where he owned and managed a local hotel and restaurant. Over his five years with this establishment, he boosted overall revenue by 27 percent. He also has a history as a volunteer firefighter who has earned honors as firefighter of the month. He is also a championship golfer at the club level. His other hobbies include hiking, cycling, swimming, and martial arts. In an effort to give back to the communities that support him, he has donated to a number of nonprofit organizations and significant historical events.