Dena LaMar joined Advance Auto Parts in July of 2017 and currently serves as the first Chief Diversity, Equity Inclusion Officer is focused on advancing diversity, inclusion, equity, cultural awareness, and representation at Advance Auto Parts.  With over 20 years’ experience in leadership, retail, operations, customer experience, and financial services/banking experience; Dena was previously the Regional Vice President for the Great Lakes Region and was responsible for the strategy to drive the customer experience, operational excellence, talent development, and sales and profits for stores located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, and Maryland.   

Dena joined Advance from GetGo Cafe & Market a division of Giant Eagle Corporation, where she was the Vice President of Store Operations. She was responsible for the operational success, focused on growing the convenience, quick serve restaurant, and fuel business while establishing the overarching strategy to drive customer experience, process execution, people leadership, and P&L performance.  

Dena was with Walmart Corporation where she was the Regional General Manager for Pennsylvania.  Responsible for the operational success of multiple markets, increasing market share and topline sales, customer experience, people leadership, and P&L with over 10 billion dollars in yearly annual sales for over 35,000 Walmart Associates.  Prior to joining Walmart, Dena was with Bank of America Corporation, as a Senior Vice President and Market Executive for Metropolitan Atlanta, Ga.   

Dena is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Northern Virginia University, Carnegie Mellon Executive Education Leadership Program and holds a Green Belt and Black Belt Certification in Project Management.  Dena currently serves on the boards of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Opera, Carnegie Museum of Art and is a member of the Robert Morris University President Council, The Pittsburgh Promise Foundation. Dena, her husband Marty, and their daughter Kennedy reside in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.