Jody Allen
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Jo Lynn "Jody" Allen. A name synonymous with innovation, business acumen, and a deep commitment to philanthropy. Born on February 3rd, 1959, Jody is an American powerhouse, a businesswoman, entrepreneur, and a dedicated philanthropist.
She's the younger sister of the legendary Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. And from 1986 until 2015, she was at the helm of his investment and project management company, Vulcan Inc., as its chief executive officer. But her influence doesn't stop there. She's also a co-founder and the driving force behind the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
Following the profound loss of her brother in October 2018, Jody stepped into a role of immense responsibility. Named executor and trustee of his estate, she's been entrusted with the critical task of overseeing the execution of his will, settling his affairs, and ensuring his ambitious projects continue to flourish. This includes stewardship of iconic assets like the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL, the magnificent Octopus super-yacht, and the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, alongside a significant stake in Seattle Sounders FC.
Jody's journey began in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of Edna Faye, a schoolteacher, and Kenneth Sam Allen, an associate director at the University of Washington Libraries. Her childhood in the Wedgwood neighborhood and her graduation from Lakeside School in 1975 set the stage for a remarkable future. She further honed her intellect and creativity studying drama at Whitman College, graduating in 1980.
Her professional life truly ignited in 1986 when she co-founded Vulcan Inc. with her brother, Paul. Their shared vision was to manage their family's diverse business and charitable interests. A former CFO of Vulcan described her as the one "responsible for having the trains run on time," highlighting her exceptional organizational skills and a "particular passion for real estate development, building things in general."
Today, she's the vice-chair of First & Goal Inc., the entity overseeing the Seattle Seahawks. Her involvement in the public-private partnership that brought Lumen Field to life is a testament to her strategic vision. She was even an advisor to her brother when the idea of acquiring the Seahawks was first conceived. A 1997 report noted: "Jody Patton thought buying the Seahawks was a great idea; thus was born Allen's efforts to acquire the team and build a new football stadium."
Her impact extends to the construction of the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, the revitalization of the Seattle Cinerama, and the creation of the EMP Museum, now known as the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP. She also leads Vulcan Productions, a dynamic company behind films, digital programs, and outreach initiatives, having produced or executive-produced over a dozen documentaries and feature films. In 2013, she lent her support to the impactful documentaries "Girl Rising" and "Pandora's Promise."
While her career has been marked by significant achievements, it hasn't been without its challenges. In 2013, five former security guards brought forth accusations of sexual harassment and unethical activities, including allegations of bribing customs officials. These lawsuits were ultimately settled out of court.
Jody's philanthropic spirit is equally profound. In 1990, she co-founded the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which has since distributed over $469 million in grants to more than 1,400 nonprofit organizations.
She serves as president of the board of trustees for the Museum of Pop Culture, a vibrant institution celebrating pop culture and music. The Seattle Times lauded her role in bringing the museum to fruition, stating, "Although Allen gets most of the credit...it is the brainchild of both these close siblings. Allen provided the money and inspiration; Patton, as executive director, is largely responsible for the vision that made it happen."
Together with her brother, she co-founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science in 2003, where she now serves as chairman of the board. This institute is a vital resource, offering free online public resources to scientists worldwide. Her dedication extends to numerous other boards, including the Seahawks Charitable Foundation, ArtsFund, the Theatre Communications Group, the University of Washington Foundation, the Museum of Glass, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
In her personal life, Jody is the mother of three children with Brian Patton, from whom she divorced in 2009 after 21 years of marriage. During her marriage, she was known by various names, including Jody Patton, Jody Allen Patton, and Jo Allen Patton.
A member of the prestigious Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Explorers Club, Jody Allen continues to reside on Mercer Island, Washington, a testament to her enduring connection to the region.
Her contributions to film as an executive producer and producer are extensive, with credits including "Men with Guns," "The Luzhin Defence," "The Soul of a Man," "The Blues," "Hard Candy," "American Masters: No Direction Home: Bob Dylan," "Girl Rising," and "Pandora's Promise," among many others.
Jo Lynn "Jody" Allen (born February 3, 1959) is an American businesswoman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She is the younger sister of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and served as the chief executive officer of his investment and project management company, Vulcan Inc., from its founding in 1986 until 2015. She is also the co-founder and president of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
Following the death of her brother in October 2018, Allen was named executor and trustee of his estate, pursuant to his instructions, giving her responsibility for overseeing the execution of his will and settling his affairs with tax authorities and parties with an interest in his projects. Among some of the properties she took control of upon his death were the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL), the Octopus super-yacht, and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), along with minority ownership of the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer (MLS).
== Early life and education ==
Allen was born in Seattle, Washington, on February 3, 1959, the daughter of schoolteacher Edna Faye (née Gardner) Allen and Kenneth Sam Allen, an associate director of the University of Washington Libraries. Her older brother Paul went on to become co-founder of Microsoft Corporation. She grew up in Seattle's Wedgwood neighborhood and graduated from Lakeside School in 1975. She studied drama at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, and was a member of the class of 1980.
== Career ==
In 1986, Allen co-founded Vulcan Inc. with her brother to manage their family's business and charitable endeavors. Vulcan's former chief financial officer described her as being "responsible for having the trains run on time" and said she had "a particular passion for real estate development, building things in general."
She currently serves as vice-chair of First & Goal Inc., which oversees operations of the Seattle Seahawks. She was involved in negotiating the public-private partnership that led to the construction of Lumen Field in Seattle, and was an adviser to her brother when he first considered buying the Seahawks. In 1997, a Seattle reporter wrote: "Jody Patton thought buying the Seahawks was a great idea; thus was born Allen's efforts to acquire the team and build a new football stadium."
During her career Allen also supervised construction of the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, renovation of the Seattle Cinerama, and also helped bring the EMP Museum (now the Museum of Pop Culture or MoPOP) to Seattle. She is also president of Vulcan Productions, a company that produces films, digital programs, and outreach initiatives, and has produced or executive-produced more than a dozen documentaries and feature films. In 2013, she signed on as a backer of two documentaries, the Richard E. Robbins-directed film Girl Rising and the nuclear power documentary Pandora's Promise.
== Controversies ==
In 2013, five of her former security guards accused her of sexual harassment, and extensive unethical activity, including bribing customs officials to smuggle animal bones out of Africa and Antarctica. The lawsuits were eventually settled out of court.
== Philanthropy ==
Allen co-founded the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation in 1990. Since then, the foundation has given more than $469 million in grants to over 1,400 nonprofit organizations.
Allen is the president of the board of trustees of the Museum of Pop Culture, a nonprofit museum dedicated to pop culture and music. The Seattle Times credited Allen with helping her brother make the museum a reality: "Although Allen gets most of the credit...it is the brainchild of both these close siblings. Allen provided the money and inspiration; Patton, as executive director, is largely responsible for the vision that made it happen."
With her brother, Allen co-founded the Seattle-based non-profit organization Allen Institute for Brain Science in 2003, of which she serves as chairman of the board. The Institute provides free online public resources to scientists around the world. Other boards on which she has served include those of the Seahawks Charitable Foundation, ArtsFund, the Theatre Communications Group, the University of Washington Foundation, the Museum of Glass, the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
== Personal life ==
Allen has three children with Brian Patton, whom she divorced in 2009 after 21 years of marriage. Allen's ex-husband is a golf-course manager. She was known as Jody Patton, Jody Allen Patton and Jo Allen Patton while married.
She is a member of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Explorers Club.
As of 2009, Allen lives on Mercer Island, Washington.
== Filmography ==
=== Executive producer ===
Men with Guns (1997)
The Luzhin Defence (2000)
The Safety of Objects (2001)
The Soul of a Man (2003)
The Blues (2003)
Lightning in a Bottle (2004)
Hard Candy (2005)
American Masters: No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005)
Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas (2006)
Where God Left His Shoes (2007)
Girl Rising (2013)
Pandora's Promise (2013)
We The Economy (2014)
=== Producer ===
Inspirations (1997)
Me & Isaac Newton (1999)
Titus (1999)
Coastlines (2002)
Far from Heaven (2002)
== References ==
== External links ==
Jody Allen at IMDb
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