Joining the team in 2022, BJ Allen is Deputy Director at the Region Five Development Commission, engineering a just and sustainable future for our region by making innovative use of renewable energy and conservation. Her focus areas include Energy and Environment planning, fundraising for regional climate resilience efforts, and project management. Delivering complex assistance to local units of government, businesses and the general public, she facilitates public engagement, and conducts high level project/program design and implementation, including securing funding.

Enjoying a rural life for the vast majority of her time on earth, BJ has a special passion for rural areas and helping ensure the unique needs facing our communities are met, especially advancing the quality of life for people in the region. BJ has spent her professional career in the renewable energy and energy efficiency private sectors, supervising teams, managing projects, designing and estimating systems, and continuously working to improve processes. BJ has PMP® Project Management Professional Certification and is a MN Master A Licensed Electrician. She received her M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Minnesota – Duluth, along with her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of San Diego. 
 

BJ can be reached directly at 218.209.5584 or at bjallen@regionfive.org