Monique Allen
Monique Allen is the founder and President of ACMS Northwest (Allen Construction Management Services), a woman and minority-owned civil engineering firm specializing in civil engineering, construction management, and engineering inspection services. Under her leadership, ACMS Northwest has grown into a financially stable, award-winning organization with a strong reputation for quality management, community engagement, and diversity in the workplace. The company has been recognized as one of the top 100 companies to work for in Oregon and has earned accolades such as Engineering Firm of the Year, reflecting its excellence and influence in the industry.
With more than 28 years of experience in the construction and engineering fields, Monique has built her career on a philosophy she calls “VIP services”—vision, innovation, and passion—combined with integrity and commitment to her clients, employees, and community. She leads an all-women ownership and management team and ensures that over 60% of ACMS Northwest’s staff are women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. Her leadership style emphasizes mentorship, team collaboration, and community service, helping foster an environment where employees thrive and clients receive exceptional service.
Beyond her professional achievements, Monique is deeply committed to giving back. She serves on the board of Women in Transportation Services (WTS) and is an active committee member of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO). She regularly mentors young women, participates in community initiatives such as reading programs and environmental projects, and supports a wide range of local nonprofits. Recognized personally with awards including the Icon Award and Women of the Year from WTS, Monique continues to inspire the next generation of leaders while expanding ACMS Northwest’s impact in both the industry and the community.
• HSEEP - Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program
• IS-00120.A - Introduction to Exercises
• Environmental Sentinel Program
• Icon Award for work in the industry
• Women of the Year Award from Women in Transportation Services (WTS)
• Engineering Firm of the Year (company award)
• Top 100 Companies to Work For in Oregon (company award)
• Bay Area Legal Aid
• San Francisco Ethics Commission
• Civilian Complaint Review Board
• WTS
• ULI
• JIAMC
• FCMA
• CREW
• COMTO
• Women in Environment
• Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs
• National Association of Minority Contractors
• Oregon Tradeswomen
• Business Development Institute and Construction Management Association of America
What do you attribute your success to?
I definitely don't do this by myself. We have an amazing team of all women - ownership and management and internal staff. Right now, we keep over 60% of our staff as women and minorities and disabled individuals. It's really about taking care of your employees, and they take care of you. They do a great job and really take care of our clients. It's just about that teamwork and everybody pitching in to do it together. That's how you make it successful. You have to have that iconic team that works together and gets the job done, because it's not done by just one person.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
One of the things I would say is absolutely have a mentor and or a coach. I would definitely say take care of yourself and have your confidence there, because it's a long journey, and have your circle of supporters and your cheerleaders around you. I would say for you to understand not only what imposter syndrome is, but what the projected imposter syndrome is, because that's going to have a big impact on your career, possibly. It's one thing for you to feel like, okay, should I be here? But it's another thing for you to be like, no, I've worked hard, I know what I'm talking about, I know what I'm doing, but then other people to be like, you're too young to be doing this, you're too this to be doing this, or having like, how did you get here? Why are you here? Are you the person who's in charge and running? When people are projecting that on you, it's a whole different atmosphere for them to always make you feel less than and smaller than what you are. I want everybody to start off with understanding not just what imposter syndrome is, but projected imposter syndrome is, because it has such a big impact on how you see yourself and how you navigate that in the system. I would tell them to never forget to give back and stay in community service and just always think about ways that you can reach back and help others and keep others supported. And when you have your circle, remember to celebrate the small wins, because every little step counts.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see in my field today is a cultural devaluation of ethics, which can make maintaining standards more difficult. Additionally, election-year compliance requirements and high-profile investigations create added complexity in our work. At the same time, these challenges present significant opportunities: to reinforce public accountability, elevate ethical standards, and champion a culture of integrity across sectors.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my work and personal life are faith, compassion, justice, fairness, and accountability. I am also deeply committed to mentorship—passing knowledge and guidance forward to support others’ growth and success.