Military Awards and Decorations: Purple Heart, Air Medal for Valor, Air Medal with Seventeen Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, Expert - M-14 / M-16 Rifles / M-60 Machine Gun, U.S. and Vietnam Service Medals, Aircraft Crewman Wings Allen was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1972. He was immediately employed by a sales and marketing firm as a commissioned sales representative. The firm served as brokers for a variety of general merchandise manufacturers and importers. In an effort to gain more control of product distribution, Allen started a wholesale distribution business. He relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, to explore a more lucrative market driven by the offshore oil industry. Over a twelve year period, Allen expanded the company servicing independent and chain store outlets throughout south Louisiana and south Texas. The oil rich economy crashed in 1986. Allen relocated to Orlando, Florida, and operated a successful wholesale business for several years. In 2007, he started a new career in real estate. He trained as a real estate investor and earned his Florida Real Estate License. Over a period of seven years, Allen acquired thirty-six single family homes, throughout Central Florida. His business model was buying distressed foreclosed homes from banks, renovating, re-selling or renting. During that period, Allen served on the Board of one of the largest not-for-profit real estate trade organizations in the United States. In 2009, Allen was elected as President of the not-for-profit. During Allen's tenure at the helm, the trade organization was awarded the annual National Award for Excellence from the National Association of Real Estate Investors. In 2014, Allen acquired a heavily forested five acre property where he has lived a quieter, less stressful life. His new passion became FOREX trading (Foreign Exchange Currencies) and writing. Allen earned his Private Pilot license in 1981 and flew various types of fixed wing aircraft all over America and the Caribbean for many years. He earned his PADI Scuba Diver certification and logged more than 300 ocean dives in Florida and Caribbean waters. While in Central Florida, Allen became involved with not-for-profit animal rescue organizations and served on the Boards of two organizations. In 2014, in association with Brevard County Animal Services, he co-produced the largest animal adoption event in the history of Brevard County at that time. Spurred by the success, the County later became one of Florida's first counties to achieve No-Kill.
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