Allen Engineering is a family-owned business, a steward in their community, a safety net for their employees, and a story that takes us back all the way to 1964. This concrete equipment manufacturer headquartered in the small town of Paragould, AR hosted the Manufacturing Express today as we rolled in during a classic, Arkansas rainstorm.
Allen Engineering Corporation was founded in 1964 by the late Dewayne Allen and Mary Ann Allen in Piggott, Arkansas. Mary Ann affectionately dubbed AEC, “the little show that grew big,” which couldn’t be more true of the manufacturer that started as a small concrete business. AEC quickly rose as the sole supplier of all ready-mix and sand gravel operations in Northeast Arkansas. Just a short 13 years after opening, Dewayne manufactured his first piece of concrete equipment, the Razorback® Truss Screed, in an old Truck Repair Shop in Paragould, Arkansas. And once they started, they just couldn’t stop–and quickly building \the family business to include dozens of different brand products, expanding their shop to five more plants across the state, and employing almost 200 associates across the state.
AEC’s work philosophy is fueled on one foundational principle: Family. Preserving the core of their family-owned and operated business has always been a priority, and AEC has been growing their family for more than 60 years. Their hiring motto: “We hire for attitude, not aptitude,” said President & CEO Jay Allen. “When you are a family-owned business, you have to focus a lot on how you instill commitment among the rest of the people who make up your team—your family. I’m really proud of the way we have built this culture.” A cornerstone of Paragould life, AEC has continued to invest and create opportunities for area locals and increase hiring programs across the state. From participating in local job fairs to hosting industry training programs, to hiring out of local high schools and partnering with addiction recovery ministries and re-entry programs, AEC believes that strong, manufacturing workers can be found in all corners of life.
While every community is not a manufacturing community, every community can be made better by the opportunities equipment manufacturers create. In Arkansas alone, equipment manufacturers support almost 10,000 jobs, contribute millions in state revenue and commit countless hours each year to strengthen their communities. The people of Paragould know this better than anyone, as companies like AEC have made investments and committed themselves to growing the town. From the old courthouse on Court Street to the growth of business on Main Street, AEC has championed the town’s development and redevelopment to truly make Paragould: “A City Like No Other.”
As the sun broke through the clouds and onto the bustling plant and the proud faces of the AEC associates and family, it’s clear that AEC’s story is far from over. With each new generation, the legacy of the Allen family and their commitment to building both great products and a great community will continue to grow, making Paragould the center for opportunity and All-American ingenuity in Arkansas for years to come.
