Altruistic Leadership Presents...Take-A-Lesson with Ron Allen, Chairman of the National African American Insurance Association

Online, August 17, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Friday September 24, 4pm EST-Ron Allen will share with the listening audience of Altruistic Leadership his career journey, successes, trials, triumphs, and tripping points. During this 45-minute segment, we will discuss the importance of taking ownership in today's market.

Callers are welcome to join the conversation during the show by calling (917) 889-3394. The LIVE, Internet talk-radio show will stream from the host page at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/altruisticleadership. An archive will be available at the same link immediately following the show or listeners can subscribe to the archives via the RSS feed located on the host page.

Take-A-Lesson is becoming the place to be on Friday's at 1PM Pacific / 4PM Eastern to connect with successful leaders in the marketplace. Go to http://www.altruisticleadership.com/takealessonbroadcast.html to view upcoming speakers and checkout workshops designed specifically for the diverse leader.

About Our Guest

Ron Allen is a native Chicagoan and is proud to be a product of the Chicago school system. He graduated from Oakenwald Elementary School, and then attended Tilden Technical High School. During high school, Allen participated in several extra-curricular activities. Allen is the only child of Tessie Johnson. Ms. Johnson was an honest hard-working single mother and a devout Christian, who embraced faith in her child rearing. The family's modest income required that Allen work to earn money for school, so Allen worked as a paperboy. Upon graduation from high school, Allen worked at the Stockyard Inn and then later obtained employment with the Chicago Public Library.

While working at the library, Allen was able to continue his self-education by availing himself to the many library resources during his break time. Allen passed the federal civil service exam and was soon called to work at Chicago's Main Post Office. This new job enabled Allen to enroll in college. He enrolled at Wilson Jr. College (renamed Kennedy-King Jr. College), and worked nights and weekends at the post office.

Allen fondly remembers his days at the post office, because during that time many of Chicago's greatest Black minds also were employed there. Several of Allen's co-workers went on to become leaders in the civil rights movement, community leaders, Chicago council members, deputy police superintends, and state congressional representatives.

During his junior college days, Allen was a member of the track team and became an avid bid whist player. He received an Associate's degree from Wilson Jr. College and transferred next door to Chicago Teacher's College (currently known as Chicago State University). Allen earned his B.S. from CTC in 1966 and secured work with the Chicago Public Schools. He worked at Chicago's King High School as a business education teacher while still working nights at the post office.

Allen moved his family to Wheaton, IL. In 1968 and later joined the DuPage African American Episcopal Church during the church's early years. Allen has remained a member of DuPage AME and always acknowledges the strong support the members of the church provided his family during the early growth and development of his family in a county with very little diversity. Allen is active in the Media Ministry and the Men's Chorus, and supports the Boy Scouts Troop within the church.

Allen is a lifetime member of the NAACP DuPage County Branch. Allen was selected as a member of the Diversity Task Force at Wheaton North High School and worked toward improving race relations within the school district. He enjoys mentoring and continues to devote time to support the development of aspiring youth. He has often speaks at high schools for career day programs. Allen has been a strong advocate for community education programs within the insurance industry, and has conducted several related seminars.

Allen joined the Allstate Insurance Co. in 1967 and was one of Allstate's first African American claim adjusters. Allen later became one of the first African Americans promoted to Allstate Agent. Allen has maintained an agency affiliation with the Allstate Insurance Companies for 40 years. Allen's insurance agency has won several regional and national honors during his sales career.

Allen formerly was the co-host of "The Financial Forum" along with Joseph Ziegler Jr. Their program was a weekly segment of the popular "Cliff Kelley Show", a morning radio broadcast on WVON 1690 AM in Chicago. Allen was selected by the Chicago Defender newspaper as one of the recipients of their 2009 Men of Excellence Award.

Allen has served on the Allstate Foundation Regional Grant Committee, the Demicco Youth Center Board of Directors, and the DuPage County Crimestoppers Board of Directors, the Chicago State University Alumni Board, the DuPage County Adult Probation Department Volunteers, and the President of the African- American Allstate Agents Alliance.

Allen was elected in 2008 as Chairman of the National African American Insurance Association. Allen is responsible for maintaining, developing, and improving relationships with traditional insurance industry trade associations and other organizations representing the interest of minorities in the ever growing, emerging multicultural marketplace of the insurance business. NAAIA has chapters in Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC. NAAIA also is presently establishing new chapters in Cleveland, St. Louis, and Jackson, MS.

Allen is married to Carol, his wife of 46 years, and has three children, Mark, Vera, and Keith.

Join us as we Take-A-Lesson with Ron Allen