Shoun Thao , who owns and runs the H . O . P . E Center ( Hmong Organizing for Progress and Empowerment ), worked for then- City Councilman Warren for seven years and calls his former boss “ very genuine . He ’ s always been vested in the community . He grew up here . He knew everything about what its people needed , from grocery stores to fixing the roads , bridges , streets and bike lanes -- in essence to make it ripe for redevelopment dollars and projects .” Thao adds that Del Paso Heights and North Sacramento “ have more vacant land than any other city council districts ” and that it ’ s ready for infill housing and mixed-use developments -- but that when Warren didn ’ t win re-election , his successor “ has not picked up where we left off . Maybe he will when he gets a little more experienced and , like Allen , gets on the ground with the people who live and work here . Allen is hopeful that his vision for the Council District continues , even though he is no longer a member of City Council .”
Thao laughs when he describes Warren ’ s enthusiasm for getting things done . “ I almost wanted to warn people that if they approached Allen with a good idea , they ’ d better be ready to get to work on it ,” he says . “ Because Allen ’ s first reaction to it would be , ‘ Okay , sounds great , give me a proposal , let ’ s get the community outreach going and see if we can make it happen .’”
Ronald Bieber , 82 , the retired founder of Spartan Home Loans , has worked with Warren for three decades . “ It ’ s rare when a business partnership becomes a real friendship ,” he says , “ but that ’ s how it ’ s been .” He says they became acquainted when Warren was doing one of his first home developments , Rainbow Springs , in South Sacramento .
“ My father is the foundation for everything that I am and will ever be ,” he says . “ His resilience and work ethic are second to none . A mentor , leader and visionary are not just traits that he embodies : they are who he is , to his core .
“ After almost seven years of working in this space , I can say that the last two have been by far the most challenging ,” he continues . “ As I fully step into my own as the principal of my own firm , I have developed such a deep sense of respect and pride for not just my father ’ s accomplishments but who he is as a person . The real estate industry is a tough space to navigate , let alone be successful in . There are high highs and low lows . One thing he has always counseled to me is that ‘ You have to ride the wave , because it ’ s a marathon , not a sprint .’”
Braxton Warren says his father “ can be a dragon breathing actual fire or the most compassionate giver and mentor . Most important , he is my dad . And I am so proud to be his son .”
Warren credits his essential evenness to his early days in baseball . “ I learned then that if you struck out in the game , the season and your life weren ’ t over ,” he says . “ So , I tend to take things in stride . Call me on a Friday or Monday . I ’ ll still be the same guy . In my opinion , people need a leader who can get things done , as opposed to letting tough problems linger on and on and on , leaving them for others to solve .”
“ I was very impressed with this young man and we ended up bonding because of our shared Christian faith . As time went on , we became friends and not long ago he stepped in and helped my company when we had some difficulties with a particular business relationship .”
Braxton Allen Warren , Warren ’ s eldest child and principal / CEO of The Warren Group , Compass , also has no hesitation about endorsing his father -- as a businessman and , more to the point , as a person .
Pictured ( L-R ): Allen Warren with his son Braxton Allen Warren , principal / CEO of The Warren Group , Compass
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