KBS honors Conference Center Manager Col. Jim Allen for his years of service

The W.K. Kellogg Biological Station community gathered at the end of January to celebrate and thank Col. Jim Allen for his decade as the manager of the KBS Conference Center. A Michigan State University alum, Allen came to KBS after a distinguished, 30-year career in the United States military.

“Jim brought his military organizational skills to KBS and established strong financial tracking, procedural documentation, and deftly steered the Conference Center through the uncharted waters of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Andy Widner, KBS associate director of operations. “Jim’s willingness to always jump in and do whatever has been needed has been priceless,” he added. “He has always been willing to roll up his sleeves and get the job done.”

In addition to his work at the Conference Center, Allen served as an advisor for MSU’s Veterans Outreach Committee. As part of this committee, he partnered with MSU’s Vets to Ag program and assisted with overseeing veterans living at KBS and learning skills to become certified to work in Detroit’s Urban Farms.

“I’ve learned many valuable skills under Jim’s leadership,” said Nicole Kokx, longtime Manor House event coordinator and Allen’s successor as conference center manager. “Jim leads from the heart and is passionate about providing a safe workplace where all employees feel valued and included.”

Col. Jim Allen

During his military career, Allen served in the Army, Army Reserve and the Michigan National Guard. He spent almost two years in Iraq over two tours of duty, first as a security force commander and then as a route clearing operations officer. He also spent some 22 months as a foreign military affairs officer running security cooperation missions with the Tajikistani and Omani armies.

In the last years of his military service, Allen commanded the 3-330th Infantry Battalion in Waterford, Michigan, then completed his final assignment as the division operations officer for the 98th Training Division at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Col. Allen retired from the military a few years ago, and was honored for his service to the United States at a Jan. 5, 2020, MSU men’s basketball game in the Breslin Center.

Join us in congratulating Col. Allen and thanking him for his service!