Breaking Through the "Good Ol' Boys Network" With Toughness, Tenacity, & Grace

Deena James is the President & Co-Founder of Cowell James Forge Insurance Group. Prior to this founding, Deena served for 4 years as president of Krueger & James. She is passionate about providing world-class service and peace of mind to clients and instilling a sense of shared mission and quality to everyone on her team. Deena was honored in 2014 by Thinking Bigger Business Media with the  "25 Under 25" award, which recognizes the impact of Kansas City businesses with fewer than 25 employees. In 2013 the Kansas City Business Journal named her one of 25  "Women Who Mean Business," an award for successful female entrepreneurs, corporate officials and other leaders in the for-profit sector. Past President of the KCI Rotary Club, Deena is Vice President for the North Kansas City Business Council and a Board Member for the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce. She serves as secretary of the board for Angel Flight Central, a nonprofit organization that provides free air travel for people facing a medical emergency. She also is active in the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program. Deena holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a Certified Insurance Counselor. Married for more than 40 years, Deena and her husband have three grown children and seven grandchildren. She describes