Hugh O. Allen

How Hugh Helps Clients

Hugh helps clients drive transformational change for their organizations through collaborative strategies, building broad-based coalitions, and securing funding for large, complex projects. He is a well-connected bipartisan government relations leader leveraging strong contacts in government, business, media, higher education, community leadership, and the nonprofit sector.

Hugh joined Buchanan after serving as Executive Deputy Treasurer and Chief of Staff at the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. In that role, he led the independent agency with custodial responsibility for $146 billion in public funds. He successfully guided the department between Treasurers from two different political parties, providing stable, non-partisan leadership and support. He also played a pivotal role during the department’s COVID-19 pandemic response leading it through a rapidly changing strategy and tactics to address issues specific to the pandemic. During his time at the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, Hugh emphasized and encouraged a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethics, and maximized return on a multi-million-dollar budget through pragmatic financial strategies. He enhanced civic programs to create opportunities and promote financial empowerment for Pennsylvania citizens, always focused on creating strategies that provided bottom-line value for Pennsylvania families, business, and nonprofits.

Prior to his role at the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, Hugh was the Senior Director of Commonwealth Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. He was responsible for external affairs programming that advanced the University’s institutional priorities through cultivating relationships with key stakeholders and creating advocacy efforts to secure support for key projects. He also previously served as the Vice President of Government Relations for the National Constitution Center and as Deputy Chief of Staff at the School District of Philadelphia.

What Clients Can Expect

As a result of Hugh’s extensive experience, bi-partisan contacts, and track record of collaboration and learning and succeeding in multiple industries, clients know they can rely on Hugh to learn and understand their business and issues inside and out and build broad based support for their efforts. Hugh’s thoughtful and collaborative approach is well-regarded by those inside and outside the halls of government.

Outside the Office

Hugh enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with his wife, daughters, and rescued Pitbull Cali.

Proof Points

• At Treasury, Hugh Expanded access to Keystone Scholars universal childhood savings accounts; improved PA’s 529 College Savings Investment Plan from unrated to a gold rating; Increased actuarial funding for PA’s 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan to 126%+; tripled assets and accounts in the PA ABLE savings program for people with disabilities; and overhauled the unclaimed property recovery process to be timelier and more cost effective, reducing backlogs and automating payments, leading to record-breaking returns.  
• Led broad-based coalitions at Penn to restore $30.4 million in public funding for the School of Veterinary Medicine, assisted in the development of a statewide fund to fund manufacturing research, protect intellectual property, and retain top talent in the Commonwealth, and secured capital funding and designation as a Qualified Opportunity Zone for Pennovation Works, Penn’s research commercialization campus.
• Launched a comprehensive global engagement platform and obtained funding for joint programs with the National Museums of Afghanistan and Latvia and secured $10 million in funding for infrastructure for a national museum in Philadelphia.
• Collaborated with C-Suite leaders at a local School District to implement a $180 million deficit reduction program and expanded educational access by negotiating free public transportation for 55,000 students.