Ethan Richard (Rick) Allen:  

First let me say that I'll always regret not knowing how to ask Sally Bakken or Patti Mann for a date while in high school. There were others, too, but those two in particular were especially beautiful, very nice, good friends, and also smart (even though Sally was so quiet only a few of us knew how smart she was). And now that I know more about myself and life in general (I was pretty unsure and shy then), I think maybe they'd have said "yes"! Ah, the regrets of being so complete an idiot in high school ! At the time I thought I had no chance whatsoever (why would they even consider going out with me?), and all my friends confirmed I was right ("Of course they won't go out with you...why would they? They could go out with anybody they wanted, and anyway, I heard she's got a boyfriend at another school !). I mean really, what are friends for if not to keep you from totally humiliating yourself? OK, that's off my chest. To make a long story short, everything worked itself out better than fine. College at Eastern was a complete blast, my military career after Eastern was short, sweet, and spent in Europe with my new wife (soft-spoken, thoughtful, beautiful, bright, funny Alvarita, whom I met the summer after high school...we married 3 1/2 years later), my family has been fabulous, and my work career very rewarding. So here's a quick synopsis: Eastern Washington, BA (In journalism, for any of you who might remember my tumultuous stint at West Valley as sports editor, reviewer of plays, columnist, etc.) Military (Infantry Officer...finished as a Captain...Airborne, 25 jumps; trained with Special Forces in Bad Tolz, Germany on temporary assignment). Europe for 1 1/2 years, lots of travel to lots of different countries. Back to school for Masters (Interpersonal Communication/Organizational Development), Ohio University. Worked in Student Life at Ohio U., Illinois State University, University of Detroit Moved back to Northwest (Tacoma) to work at Pacific Lutheran University, where I ended up as the Vice President and Dean of Students. Started a family after moving back to Northwest (two boys, Ethan and Travis; Ethan is a computer genius who owns his own company and has developed over 100 Apps for the iPhone, and Travis is an outstanding young architect for NBBJ in Seattle; NBBJ designed SAFECO Field for the Mariners and Travis is now one of the leads on the Amazon.com HQ block in Seattle). Completed my second Masters and a Doctorate in Public Administration at the University of Southern California (commuted there via train and plane for 6 years while working at PLU). Went to work for the Washington State Department of Community Development, managing state housing programs (helped start up the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, although the real workhorse was a brilliant guy named Ben Bonkowski); also developed and administered the statewide Governor's Housing Conference in Yakima (but the real workhorse there was a very sharp woman named Charmaine Mortenson). After a couple of years of being semi-effective and frustrated at the State, went to work at the local level...Expand for more