Barb Allen started working at WTAJ in 1978.  She was a general assignment reporter in Altoona.  Barb played many different roles in our newsroom.  She moved up to weekend anchor, and eventually became the news director.  She now goes by Barb Kooman.

Barb married Marty Kooman who is a financial consultant here in Altoona.  They had two kids together.  "I think because I had two kids I realized that the news business would go on fine without me," said Barb.  She left WTAJ soon after having children.  She has worked with her husband at Kooman and Associates for about 8 years now. 

Barb says she is glad she stayed in the area because she loves this community, but she says she does miss working in news.  "I do miss it.  It was a lot of excitement.  You were really so aware of what was going on in the community."  Barb says she loved working with so many different people in the area, "It's a small town.  People were comfortable sharing stories with you and giving you tips.  It was just a great experience."  She says she also misses the group of people she got to work with at WTAJ.  And she still keeps in touch with some of them even thirty years later.