Dave Allen
As business editor of The Star-Ledger, Dave designed and managed major changes at one of the biggest daily newspapers in the United States. He managed a group of editors and reporters, producing what has been recognized repeatedly as one of the best business sections among major U.S. newspapers. The Star-Ledger was the first U.S. newspaper to successfully eliminate its daily and Sunday stock tables. Dave joined The Star-Ledger in 1973 and worked as a general assignment reporter and business writer for the next eight years.  He then moved to ITT Corporation, where he served as director of public information and acted as one of the company’s chief spokesmen.  He returned to The Star-Ledger as business editor in 1992.



Fred Hillmann
Fred Hillmann is a former Star-Ledger political editor/columnist and corporate public affairs executive who has helped shape, explain and promote major public policy and business issues in New Jersey for nearly 40 years.   His career as a writer, editor and consultant includes work with U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, Gov. Jim Florio, the New Jersey State Senate and Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems.   For more than 15 years, he directed public affairs for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, with responsibility for media relations, CEO communications, Annual Report, internal publications and video services.   His innovative public relations programs contributed to a remarkable turnaround that saw Horizon emerge as New Jersey’s largest, most financially secure health insurer.

Rachelle Christie
Rachelle Dickerson Christie is a freelance editor living in South Orange.  She has worked in the news business for the past 16 years, most recently with The Star-Ledger.  At The Star-Ledger, she spent a decade working off the Business desk, editing copy and serving as deputy production chief for the award-winning section. She also held editing positions at The Houston Chronicle, The Los Angeles Times and Newsday. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and history from Hunter College in New York.

Leo Doran
Leo Doran, former vice president of public affairs for Hill & Knowlton, is a veteran strategic communications consultant to corporations and NJ government agencies.  Some of his past clients include AT&T, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Dow Chemical (dioxin crisis), Philip Morris, NJ Travel & Tourism (beach pollution) and the NJ Tax Amnesty program.  The former publisher/editor of Garden State Reports – a monthly magazine on politics and public policy - Leo has held senior public affairs positions with United Parcel Service, Nabisco and two top NJ advertising/public relations agencies.



Pim Van Hemmen
Pim designed, built and managed a hi-tech all digital photo operation at the Star-Ledger, which went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography and hundreds of other national, regional and state awards, including ten consecutive New Jersey Press Photographer of the year titles.  Prior to managing the photo department he spent ten years as a photojournalist for the newspaper covering professional sports, worldwide news, and thousands of events around the state of New Jersey.  Most recently he was the assistant managing editor for digital news with responsibility for all online content, including news, sports, features, video and new media at the newspaper's websites.  He has served as a board member for the Associated Press Photo Managers and has taught at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.