Betsy Russell is the Boise bureau chief for The Spokesman-Review, where she covers Idaho state government and other news and also writes the “Eye on Boise” blog (and has since 2004). She is the current president of the Idaho Press Club, and is also president and a founding board member of Idahoans for Openness in Government (IDOG).
She is a graduate of the University of California-Berkeley and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. She has been with The Spokesman-Review for 18 years, including four years as the newspaper’s Idaho editor in Coeur d’Alene. Previously she worked five years as a reporter and editor for the Idaho Statesman in Boise, and earlier worked as a reporter for several California newspapers. She is married with two children, and is an avid skier and windsurfer.
Sydney Sallabanks is Director of Public Relations at Stoltz Marketing Group. Her particular expertise is in media relations, crisis mitigation, public affairs, strategic communications, campaigns and signature events. Sydney is president of the Idaho delegation of the Public Relations Society of America. She serves as lobbyist for the Idaho Press Club.
Joan Cartan-Hansen is the leader producer/host for “D4K”, co-producer/host of “Dialogue” and producer/reporter/writer for “Outdoor Idaho.” In addition, she writes and produces a number of documentaries and occasionally contributes to the “PBS NewsHour.” She served as president of the Idaho Press Club in the late 1980s to the mid 1990s and has been on a regional or state board of the Idaho Press Club since 1984. Joan is the Idaho Representative to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences NW chapter and is on the executive committee for the Idaho Capitol Correspondents Association.
Allen R. Derr, Attorney at Law and is a native Idahoan He is a founding member of the Idaho Press Club and a longtime Idaho Press Club Director.
Melissa McGrath is the Communications Director for the Idaho State Department of Education. Prior to joining the Department in 2007, Melissa worked as a print journalist for several publications in Maryland and Idaho, including the Idaho Statesman. Melissa has degrees in Journalism and Government from the University of Maryland.