By Jill Wojciechowski

This is one in a series of personality profiles in Horizons online that takes a closer look at the members of the Rockwell Collins executive leadership team.

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The notion that life can change in an instant is something Patrick Allen has always believed to be true. It was an idea his parents impressed upon him and his six siblings, and also a belief he was determined to instill in his own three children.

Yet, this corporate businessman stood in quiet disbelief on the 16th hole of a Davenport, Iowa, golf course as the voice on the other end of his cellular phone revealed the devastating news.

A massive stroke had claimed the life of his father, Robert - the man who taught him about leadership and sacrifice, and the importance of having a good sense of humor - and life had indeed changed in an instant.

The seemingly once important business conversations that had been taking place during this September 2004 golf outing were quickly replaced with memories of a man dedicated to raising seven children on a limited budget.

"I'll never forget the day my dad died - it was the day before my 40th birthday," recalled Allen, who four months later became the senior vice president and chief financial officer at Rockwell Collins. "Fortunately for him, it was quick and painless. But for those of us he left behind - it was quite a shock."

Like most people who have experienced the death of a loved one, Allen admits he is unsure about whether the void left by his father's passing will ever be filled. But he finds solace in the lifetime of memories he holds close to his heart and the belief that "Dad is still watching."

"Dad always took such great pride in my success," said Allen. "He passed away right before I accepted my current position. But I'm sure he can still see what's going on."

Family ties become inspiration

Photo by Paul Marlow, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Humble beginnings - Patrick Allen began his career at a bankrupt real estate firm in Falls Church, Va. Today, he is senior vice president and chief financial officer at Rockwell Collins. He and his wife, Karen, live with their three children on the northeast side of Cedar Rapids.

Himself a devoted husband and father, Patrick Allen was the fifth child born to Robert and Mildred Allen - a couple who met while attending Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

After marrying in 1954, the couple relocated several times - Indiana, New York, and Illinois - before sowing permanent roots in State College, Penn., a small university town about 114 miles east of Pittsburgh.

"My theory is that Dad saw tuition bills for seven kids coming down the road, so he went to work for Penn State University," joked Allen. "He probably figured he'd better find a way to get us all educated in an affordable fashion."

Heavily influenced by his older siblings, Allen describes his childhood as nothing out of the ordinary. Hand-me-down clothing, home-cooked meals, and church on Sunday were a regular part of the family routine.

On a rare occasion, Allen's three older sisters were left in charge for the evening while his parents traded the bustling household for some much needed peace and quiet.

"When you're in a group of seven, there's never a dull moment, and there's a lot of community in terms of how you are raised," he explained. "My sisters babysat, and my younger brother and I fought all the time. We were typical kids.

"My parents sacrificed an awful lot to get us where we are today," continued Allen. "And, all seven kids are college graduates - six of them from Penn State - so I'd say they did a pretty good job."

Which way is up?

Despite his personal and professional achievements, life hasn't always been that predictable for the man now responsible for the entire financial organization at one of the world's most successful aerospace and defense companies.

A self-described "prototypical nerd" who coasted through high school with average grades and no serious thought about what his future might hold, Allen entered Penn State University with plans to pursue a sociology degree.

Upon further consideration and the coaxing of some friends, he realized after his freshman year that a finance degree might actually lead to a more stable and financially promising future. Still, the light bulb didn't really come on until after he started working for a bankrupt real estate firm in Falls Church, Va.

"After college, I moved to Virginia without a job and moved in with my older sister for a short period of time," explained Allen. "Before I knew it, I had two job offers - one as a partnership analyst with a bankrupt real estate firm, and the other as store manager for a leather goods and lingerie shop.

"I'm not sure where the path not taken would have led me," he said, laughing. "But I'm quite certain I wouldn't be where I am today."

During the next two-and-half years, Allen endured a great deal of change both on the job and in his personal life. In May of 1987, he married his college sweetheart, Karen McCahill, and the duo began building their life together in a small apartment in Washington, D.C.

Within the same time period, the aspiring executive held about six positions within the real estate firm, "not because I had any particular skill, but because people were bailing left and right."

"Every day there was something new going on, and when you get things thrown at you, you just have to pick them up and figure them out," said Allen. "I think part of life is learning how to learn - and I certainly learned a great deal in a short period of time."

One of the most valuable lessons was realizing the importance of working for a stable company. He and his wife also came to the conclusion that owning a home and starting a family - two of their top priorities - might never happen if they remained in the D.C. area.

"We were having a great time living in Washington, D.C., but we were getting further away from owning a home because of the high cost of living, and we knew that wasn't where we wanted to start our family," said Allen. "So, Karen took a job at a college in Pittsburgh, and I quit my job and moved with her."

Despite the somewhat risky maneuver, things couldn't have worked out better. Allen soon found himself working at the consulting and financial advisory firm of Deloitte & Touche in Pittsburgh, where he eventually became lead manager for one of the firm's top clients - Rockwell International.

At the time, Rockwell International was an estimated $15 billion company with aerospace and defense, automotive, and graphics businesses. In 1994, Allen had been promoted to manager of the Rockwell account, and had his own office within Rockwell's corporate headquarters.

"I do believe things happen for a reason," said Allen. "Deloitte & Touche was known at the time for hiring employees right out of college instead of hiring people like me, who had already spent time at another company, but they needed to fill a position and I was available."

Times of change

Today, the 43-year-old senior executive looks back at the mid- to late-1990s and smiles. His daughter, Caitlin, was born in July 1992, and his son, Nick, was born in December of 1994 - 10 days after he accepted a position that ultimately led his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"Rockwell International had offered me a job as manager of external reporting," recalled Allen. "It was a career move that made perfect sense to me, so I literally picked up my boxes and moved them down the hall. But right after I started, everything broke loose."

During the next five years, Allen was involved in a number of significant transactions, beginning with the sale of Rockwell International's aerospace and defense business, and culminating with the spin-off of Rockwell Collins and his move to Cedar Rapids in the summer of 2001.

"I liken what happened at Rockwell during that time to the corporate equivalent of open heart surgery," said Allen, who welcomed another daughter, Jackie, in August 1996. "It was a very emotional time; it taught me a lot about myself, and it taught me a lot about how people approach their jobs."

With a demanding work schedule in which he spends between 50 and 60 hours in the office each week, and two teen-agers and an 11-year-old at home, Allen is constantly on the go.

Still, he manages to find time to drop the kids off and pick them up from school when necessary, attend their sporting events and concerts, and exercise at least three times each week. He also enjoys cooking, playing tennis, and spending time with his wife of 21 years.

"I really can't describe how important my wife has been to me," said Allen. "She's not only been a solid support for me, she's also inspired me in so many ways. I most clearly wouldn't be where I am today without her."

Ironically, many of Allen's colleagues - including Rockwell Collins Vice President and Treasurer Dave Rokos - admit they wouldn't be where they are today if it weren't for Allen.

"It's said that a good leader will take you where you might not necessarily go on your own," said Rokos, who first met Allen in 1999 when Rockwell International was relocating its corporate headquarters from California to Wisconsin. "He trusts and develops his staff, and he instills confidence in them so they are ready to tackle new frontiers when the opportunities present themselves - and I am living proof.

"Patrick is a perfect example of what you can accomplish in this country through hard work, an above average intellectual curiosity, and the willingness to take chances," continued Rokos. "He comes from humble beginnings and, despite all of his success, is still very approachable and has not forgotten his roots."