August 28, 2025, is the 15th anniversary of the memorial service for our friend Mike Allen, former CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation.
It is a day I remember well. The sanctuary was full that day of friends and associates who came to pay their respects for Mike as he was loved and admired by many.
His achievements during his tenure at MEDC are too numerous to count, but by all accounts, Mike and his team at the newly formed MEDC were largely instrumental in establishing the enormously successful development of manufacturing and logistics operations between Reynosa and McAllen and the nearby region of Pharr, Mission and Hidalgo. Some 140,000-plus jobs and 20 million square feet of industrial space were developed during his tenure and stands today as a testament to his bringing together all parties for the benefit of the community at large.
Aside from his economic achievements for the community was his fundamental belief in improving the economy and providing jobs for those who needed an advocate on their behalf. I recall Mike saying “you can measure a community by how well it takes care of its least fortunate” that has resonated with me ever since.
Looking at the landscape of industrial projects today with the development of Shary Plantation, the adjacent Business Park, the construction of the Anzalduas Crossing International Bridge, and the robust manufacturing community in Reynosa with its world class operation of companies from across the globe, I think Mike would be pleased, but not complacent with how well we have prospered. Always striving for better, he knew we had the resources to advance manufacturing logistics and job improvement for many.
I was fortunate to work alongside Mike and the team at MEDC in the early years of Reynosa’s and McAllen’s growth and have seen tremendous changes in the quality and complexity of the manufacturing facilities and their operations. What began as labor intensive operations has evolved into high tech manufacturing systems of world class quality.
We owe you a debt of gratitude for what you accomplished, Mike. Your energy and goodwill lives on in our community and now it is expanding to a regional platform. I’m encouraged by what I see from Joaquin Spamer, Mario Reyna and the RioPlex initiative, placing the region of the RGV as the platform for prosperity, we can do more together than we can do alone. Thank you, Mike, we’re all grateful for what you started.
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by Bryan Cook, a McAllen-based industrial real estate broker and consultant and member of the RGG Business Journal Advisory Board.
Editor's Note: Click here to read the official obituary of Mike Allen.
Editor's Note: Click here to watch a video the City of McAllen made to honor Mike Allen.
