D.J. Allen, Vice Chair

Imagine Marketing of Nevada
A native of Southern Nevada, D.J. Allen is closely connected to the community through his professional, personal and charitable relationships. Allen founded Imagine – a Nevada-based strategic business planning, public relations and advertising firm – in 2000 as a home-based business. It has since grown into a multi-million dollar organization with a team of 14 individuals. The company works with government entities, professional service businesses, non-profit organizations and select political candidates in federal, state and local campaigns. Imagine represents such clients as Nevada State College, City of Henderson and the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball program. It has also been involved in marketing efforts to recruit both teachers and nurses to Southern Nevada.
Allen was recognized by the Henderson Chamber of Commerce as the “Outstanding Chamber Member” for 2004 and was elected to the board of directors of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce in 2005. He was also named the SBA’s Small Businessman of the Year for Henderson in 2005 and was appointed to the board of directors of the Henderson Cultural Arts and Tourism Commission in 2007.
In 2004, Allen was named a “Rising Star” by In Business Las Vegas and later, in 2007, was named a “Rising Star” by the Las Vegas Business Press. Both publications were recognizing the top professionals in Las Vegas under 40 years of age.
He is a founding member of both the Friends of the Henderson District Public Libraries and the Henderson Community Foundation. He also volunteers his time for the Clark County School District’s School-Community Partnership Program and is involved with Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth and Nevada Public Education Foundation.
Allen is the past chairman of the Education Committee of the Henderson Chamber’s Legislative Committee and serves on IMPAC – the Henderson Chamber’s Political Action Committee. He was the class speaker for his Leadership Henderson Class of 2002 and later served as the co-chair of the 2003-04 Leadership Henderson program. Allen is also a member of the Las Vegas Chamber’s WE CARE program, which helps recruit teachers to Southern Nevada.
He currently serves on the advisory board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada and serves on the committee which developed the Heroes in Healthcare awards for Southern Nevada in association with the Nevada Business Journal and Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition. He is the past secretary for The Salvation Army of Henderson advisory board and is a former board member of the Downtown Henderson Business Association.
Allen preaches as a lay preacher at Las Vegas’ Community Lutheran Church, which has nearly 3000 members, and recently completed a term as president of his church council. He has also made leadership and character presentations to students and young adults from throughout the nation through “The D.J. Allen Project.”
Allen was also the founder and co-organizer for the Henderson High Schools’ Charity Basketball Game to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada (which ran from 1995-2000) and he served on the committee to help produce the 2004 National Association of Students Councils’ national conference in Las Vegas.
He has over a decade of experience in the Las Vegas media industry having worked with local newspapers, radio and television stations in such aspects as management, sales, reporting and producing. He is also an award-winning reporter and columnist through the Nevada Press Association while working at the Henderson Home News. From 1995 to 1996, Allen served as the director of media relations for the Las Vegas Stars baseball team and the Las Vegas Thunder hockey team.
As a third generation Southern Nevadan, Allen graduated with both his bachelor’s degree in Communication (1996) and his Master’s of Business Administration (2002) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In the spring of 2002, Allen was selected by UNLV’s marketing faculty to speak at the department’s annual graduation dinner on behalf of all of the department’s graduate students.
Allen and his wife, Stacey, have two children (Bailey and Daniel). The Allens are active in supporting autism-related causes.