About Us

John Palen - Allied Executives Founder & CEO John Palen - Allied Executives Founder & CEO

Built in the Twin Cities for leaders who keep learning.

Since 2000, Allied Executives has brought business owners and senior leaders together in confidential peer groups where experience can be shared honestly, assumptions can be challenged, and better decisions can take shape.

Allied Executives Event Allied Executives Event

Why Allied Exists

Leadership can narrow the number of people with whom you can speak candidly. The decisions become more consequential, while many of the people around you have a stake in the outcome. Allied was created to give leaders a trusted place to think with peers who understand that responsibility.

Our purpose is to create a community that supports continuous improvement, where driven people can learn, grow, and be challenged. The companies and issues have changed over the years, but that purpose has not.

Our Story

Allied Executives began with a practical belief: business leaders make better decisions when they can test their thinking with experienced peers who do not have a stake in the answer. More than two decades later, that belief still shapes how groups are built, how meetings are facilitated, and how members are supported.

The Values Behind the Work
  • Members are expected to be honest about what is working and what is not. The conversation is useful because people do not have to perform for one another.
  • The value of a group depends on preparation and presence. Members and facilitators come ready to contribute, listen, and follow through.
  • Strong leaders do not need to pretend they have every answer. They ask better questions, listen closely, and stay open to being wrong.
  • Confidentiality is foundational. Experience is shared with respect, and each leader remains responsible for the decisions they make.

Why the Twin Cities Focus Matters

Local context makes a peer group more useful. Members understand the market, talent pool, ownership realities, and relationships that shape business here. The Twin Cities focus also makes the broader Allied community more valuable beyond the monthly meeting.

The People Behind the Groups

Allied's facilitators are experienced business leaders who know how to protect the structure without taking over the conversation. Their job is to help members get to the real issue, draw out the experience in the group, and keep commitments from fading between meetings.

185+
Current Members
18
Peer Group Options
90%
Renewal Rate
25+
Years in Business
Kurt Theriault, President & John Palen, Founder / CEO Kurt Theriault, President & John Palen, Founder / CEO

Kurt Theriault & John Palen

President & CEO

Experience Allied Executives for Yourself

The best way to understand Allied Executives is to meet the people and experience the way they work. Learn more about Membership, or start a right-fit conversation with the Allied team.