Richard Allen
Chief Executive Officer
Richard Allen, founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Allen Group, has been a lifelong entrepreneur, developing new business enterprises for nearly 40 years. In 1971, he joined Imperial Cup Corporation, the family enterprise.
Over the next 18 years, Richard was involved in all aspects of this rapidly growing paper cup manufacturing company. After growing to over 800 employees, $100 million in sales and establishing manufacturing plants in five states, the family company was acquired in October 1989 by Federal Paperboard which was later purchased by International Paper.
After the sale Richard founded The Allen Group (TAG), and began purchasing key building and land positions throughout the western United States. The firm quickly expanded its development activities and developed over $300 million in properties before being acquired by Kilroy Realty (NYSE:KRC) in 1997. Richard joined the KRC Board of Directors as a member of the Executive Committee.
Richard then founded two new enterprises Allen Development, which developed office and industrial parks, and Allen Homes, which developed residential projects. Allen Homes grew to develop residential properties in 20 cities and its diverse operations were sold to San Diego’s McMillan Homes in 2001.
Richard then focused on the emerging opportunities in industrial development around rail and intermodal infrastructure. The Allen Group is now developing the largest new logistics park in North America, the 1,800-acre Dallas Logistics Hub and in 2006 they were selected by BNSF Railway as the master developer of the 1,000-acre logistics park just outside Kansas City.
He has become a frequent speaker on how emerging trends are changing the location and design of these new Inland Ports. Richard has been honored as the Ernst & Young San Diego Entrepreneur of the Year and as Visalia’s Large Business of the Year. The firm’s Dallas Logistics Hub project was honored in 2005 as “Dallas Best Real Estate Deal Announced”. He currently serves on The Allen Foundation and The Cal Poly President’s Cabinet. Previously, he has served on the KRC Executive Committee, The Sence Foundation Board of Directors, KDD Hospital Advisory Board of Directors, the VIP Presidents Roundtable, the Visalia EDC Board and as Founder and Chairman of Visalians for DARE.
