Debi Mae Starnes is a founding partner and President of Atlanta, Georgia-based EMSTAR Research, Inc. For the past 26 years, EMSTAR has provided program evaluation and applied research services to scores of clients - mostly non-profit and government agencies. In addition to her role there, she served on the Atlanta City Council for 12 years and as a Policy Advisor to former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin during her second term. Prior to this, Debi Mae Starnes worked in professional exam development for the Georgia Secretary of State's Examining Boards.

An active member of her field, Debi Mae Starnes maintains affiliations with a number of professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association's Division 27 - Society for Community Research and Action. Furthermore, in recognition of her contribution, she was awarded the Distinguished Contributions to Practice in Community Psychology Award, in 2002.

For the past 20 years, Debi Mae Starnes has also applied her professional training with a passionate personal belief that everyone should have a home. During her years on the City Council, she was a tireless advocate for increased housing and services for the homeless. She worked with Mayor Franklin to create the Gateway Center (Atlanta's centralized intake and assessment facility for the homeless) in 2003, and continues to serve on their Board of Directors.