Allison Otto, Businesswoman of the Year

Since assuming the role of President & CEO in 2021, Allison has overseen all aspects of managing Otto Construction, focusing on setting, and achieving financial goals, implementing strategic planning objectives, and positioning the company well within the communities Otto builds in.

She also invests time in identifying new clients while maintaining existing relationships and overseeing projects from an executive standpoint.

As the third generation of the Otto family to lead the company, Allison continues a 76-year legacy of doing business with honesty, integrity, and compassion for others. She joined the Otto team in 2000 as the marketing director, launching the company’s marketing department and developing the marketing and branding strategy that is still used today. In 2019 she became Executive Vice President until her appointment as President & CEO in 2021. Otto Construction is now one of the largest woman-owned-and-operated general contractors in Northern California, and one of Sacramento’s largest certified woman-owned businesses.

Born and raised in Sacramento, Allison puts a strong emphasis on doing business with local institutions. This has led to Otto Construction’s success on multi-million-dollar projects for the Sacramento City Unified School District, Los Rios Community College District, and Sacramento State. This also includes building projects that everyone in our region can enjoy, such as the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity and the Fairytale Town Story Center and Welcome Center.

Allison’s local involvement extends to active participation in organizations that are committed to building stronger communities throughout the Sacramento region. She was a member of the American Leadership Forum Class XVIII, a graduate of the 2012 Leadership Sacramento Class, and a Sacramento Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2014. Allison was also named one of 2020’s Women Who Mean Business by Comstock’s Magazine, and one of 2022’s Most Admired CEOs by the Sacramento Business Journal. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for the Blind and the Association of General Contractors (AGC) of California.

Allison earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and graduated from the UC Davis Construction Management Certificate Program.