Following graduation from Clemson University, Allen served as a U.S. Air Force pilot before beginning a business career in sales and marketing with Procter & Gamble in California. He was promoted to National Accounts Manager with responsibility for some of the largest retail headquarters in the US, including Wal-Mart and Kmart. He served as Vice President Sales and marketing for two national consumer products companies and established a joint venture with The Ministry of Agriculture in China where he spent extensive time.
Allen began a career in commercial real estate brokerage and development in Charlotte in 1995. He developed new apartment communities in Charleston, SC and Daytona Beach, FL and is still a partner is a 256 unit Class An apartment community in Charleston. In 2002 Allen joined Marcus & Millichap in Washington, DC and in 2004 opened a new office in Charlotte, NC. He serves as the North Carolina Broker of Record for the company. Allen also serves as president of a Charlotte based non-profit that sponsor needy children in Haiti and Africa. He has two daughters living in Dallas and Northern Virginia.