Deana began her career as a public relations specialist at Hirons and immediately assumed an upward trajectory, serving in various account leadership roles. Now a 24-year veteran of the agency, she serves as chief executive officer and is the first female to serve in this role in the agency’s 46-year history.

Deana recently led the charge in Hirons becoming a Women’s Business Enterprise, certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the state of Indiana. Under Deana’s skilled leadership, Hirons is one of the largest advertising, public relations and digital agencies in Indiana and serves public- and private-sector clients.

Deana is best known for her work in crisis communications and issues management and routinely volunteers her time to chambers of commerce, leadership organizations and other nonprofits to provide training on these critical topics.

Deana was named by IBJ Media as a member of their third annual Indiana 250 list, which recognizes the most influential and impactful leaders across the state of Indiana. She was also named a 2018 Woman of Influence by the Indianapolis Business Journal and is a 2024 recipient of the May Wright Sewall Leadership Award by the Indianapolis Propylaeum.

Deana serves on the boards of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indy Chamber, Central Indiana Women’s Business Center, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Indianapolis Downtown Marketing Inc., Madam Walker Legacy Center, Indiana Conference for Women, and Aspire Economic Development + Chamber Alliance and on Aspire’s Economic Development Advisory Council. She is an active member of the Indianapolis chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and serves as the 2024-2025 board chair for the Crossroads of America Council, Scouting America, one of the largest Scout Councils in the U.S. She is the first woman to chair the board.

Deana earned her Accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America. She holds a master’s degree in public relations from Ball State University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Franklin College, where she serves as a trustee.