A Family Legacy of Care: Two McKinstry Leaders Champion Heart Health
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and industries like construction face a disproportionately high risk. February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular health and recognize efforts to prevent heart disease and save lives. At McKinstry, two leaders and cousins, Matt Allen and Julian Allen, are helping advance the American Heart Association’s mission through campaigns shaped by both professional purpose and a shared family passion for heart health.
For the Allen family, the cause is personal. Heart disease has touched multiple generations, and that experience has inspired a commitment not only to honor the past, but also to protect the future.
Matt Allen, Executive Vice President and Chief Client Officer
Matt Allen, executive vice president and chief client officer at McKinstry, serves on the 2026 executive leadership team for the American Heart Association’s Hard Hats with Heart campaign in the Puget Sound region. The initiative brings construction industry leaders together to champion heart health, raise lifesaving funds and promote jobsite wellness and preparedness. Matt will serve as campaign chairperson in 2027.
Hard Hats with Heart focuses on awareness and action, encouraging companies to prioritize prevention through blood pressure management tools, lifestyle education and cardiac emergency response planning. These efforts reflect a growing understanding that jobsite safety must include both immediate hazards and long-term health outcomes.
“Heart health isn’t a cause I admire from a distance; it’s in my home—my father‑in‑law has lived it as a now-retired cardiologist and as a patient, and his passion for Lp(a) testing is why I’m all‑in with the AHA,” Matt said.
Julian Allen, Business Development Director
Julian Allen, business development director at McKinstry and chairperson of the American Heart Association’s Heart of Oregon and Southwest Washington Heart Ball campaign, has spent the past decade advocating for the Association’s mission.
“Both of my grandfathers succumbed to congestive heart failure,” Julian said. “My genetics put me at a higher risk for heart disease. Through my volunteerism over the last decade, I’ve realized how many people struggle with heart disease and how few know how to reduce their risk or even know what the risk factors are.”
Julian’s passion for prevention became urgent early in adulthood. At his first check-up after college, he learned he had prehypertension and elevated cholesterol. With lifestyle changes, he improved his health and became even more committed to helping others take proactive steps.
“It’s the small choices like a walk, a check-up, a conversation, that can change someone’s future,” Julian said.
As chairperson of the Heart Ball campaign, Julian works alongside a team of community and business leaders focused on improving health outcomes across Oregon and southwest Washington. The campaign culminated in the Heart Ball on Feb. 21, where volunteers and supporters gathered to celebrate progress and expand the Association’s impact.
Both leaders view their involvement as an extension of McKinstry’s commitment to putting people first. The campaigns reflect the company’s belief that caring for workers and communities goes beyond the scope of any single project.
“We want everyone to go home in the same condition—or better—than they came to work in,” Julian said.
Together, Matt and Julian’s leadership highlights a family-driven dedication to heart health and a broader culture of care at McKinstry. During American Heart Month, their efforts serve as a reminder that legacy is built over time — through the lives we protect, the communities we strengthen and the commitment to ensure more families have the chance to build a healthier tomorrow.
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