(TRENTON) NorthStar Strategies, LLC (NorthStar) announced today the addition of Deborah Hirt. Hirt joins the firm as a Community Engagement Representative and will support NorthStar’s Public & Community Outreach practice.
Hirt joins the NorthStar team following a distinguished 25-year career with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) working in the Office of Community Relations. In this capacity Hirt managed all facets of community engagement on complex transportation projects in Passaic, Morris, Bergen, Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey. In her capacity as Regional Manager, Ms. Hirt was responsible for coordinating meetings with local officials; organizing and running public meetings for property owners and major stakeholders; resolving concerns raised by local residents and the public; and overseeing the development and distribution of formal Department correspondence related to projects. She managed community involvement activities for a number of complex and transformative infrastructure projects in recent NJDOT history including the Route 4 & 17 Interchange Reconstruction Project in Paramus, New Jersey; the Route 206 Widening Project in Byron, New Jersey; and the I-78 Truck Weigh Stations Project in Greenwich Township, New Jersey.
“Adding Deb Hirt to our team greatly strengthens and enhances our Public & Community Outreach practice,” said NorthStar co-founder and CEO Joe Fiordaliso. “Growing this practice area has been a strategic goal for the firm since we opened our doors in 2016 and this addition is the latest progression in that growth.”
“NorthStar has a Key Personnel resume that consistently scores 100% and we have a number of recent wins as proof positive,” said NorthStar co-founder and COO Jody Herkloz. “Bringing Deb Hirt onto our team enhances the value we deliver to our teaming partners and our clients.”
“I have known and respected Deb Hirt for decades and have watched her manage community engagement activities for complex projects with composure and professionalism” said NorthStar Public & Community Outreach practice lead Denise Peck. “I’m excited that she is joining NorthStar and look forward to her delivering successful project outcomes for our clients.”
“I’m so pleased to be joining NorthStar Strategies and employing my expertise and experience to grow this practice area and support our clients,” said NorthStar Community Involvement Representative Deb Hirt. “I know and respect Denise and Joe from their respective tenures at NJDOT and look forward to reuniting with them to help deliver important transportation infrastructure improvements to the citizens of New Jersey.”
ABOUT DEB HIRT – During a 25-year career with NJDOT, Deborah Hirt helped lead the Department’s Office of Community Relations as a Regional Manager covering Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties. She managed all facets of community engagement for complex infrastructure projects. She also served her community as an elected member of the Union Township (Hunterdon County) Township Committee and was elected to serve as Mayor three times.
ABOUT NORTHSTAR STRATEGIES – NorthStar Strategies is a strategic affairs consultancy founded by Joe Fiordaliso and Jody Herkloz in 2016. NorthStar’s mission is to deliver superior results to clients by providing the highest quality strategic government affairs counsel and diversified consulting services in New Jersey and throughout the region. NorthStar has built a diverse team of experienced and dedicated professionals who are committed to delivering successful client outcomes. NorthStar’s vision is to be the most trusted consultancy in New Jersey and the region. NorthStar works each day to realize this vision by offering strong and distinct practice areas and embracing a team approach. NorthStar is organized into five distinct practice areas: Government Affairs; Public & Community Outreach; Association Management; Meeting & Event Management; Development & Fundraising.
NorthStar is a highly sought teaming partner on infrastructure projects that include a community outreach scope of work. Denise Peck, who joined the firm following a distinguished 36-year career with NJDOT, manages this practice area and is responsible for a number of recent successful NJDOT pursuits including the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Project and General Engineering Services Term Agreements. NorthStar Strategies is a prequalified and cost-basis approved sub-consultant; the firm is also a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) registered with the State of New Jersey.
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Deborah Hirt Relevant Project Experience
Route 4 & 17 Interchange Reconstruction, Paramus Borough, Bergen County
This project was begun in 1998 and completed 17 months ahead of schedule during the week of Thanksgiving 1999, and was considered one of the most successful transportation projects ever undertaken by the NJDOT. The $120 million overhaul of the 67-year old antiquated interchange involved a complete replacement of the old cloverleaf interchange while maintaining traffic flow for the 285,000 motorists who used it at that time. The project involved is located in the town of Paramus, NJ however it impacted many other towns adjacent to Paramus, including Maywood, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Saddle Brook, and Rochelle Par, among others. The extensive impacts of the project required a thorough and comprehensive community engagement strategy. This included regular meetings with public officials from all impacted municipalities and broad outreach to the public to provide regular updates on the project as well as any changes to traffic patterns.
Route 206 Widening, Byram Township, Sussex County
This $18.3 million Safety and Operational Improvements project began in 2009 with a goal to improve a stretch of State Route 206, a major north-south connector roadway that also serves as the main road through Byram. The project was intended to make traveling through downtown Byram safer and easier by adding an auxiliary lane in each direction and new traffic signals at three existing signalized intersections. The project also included construction of a center turn lane along the mainline of State Route 206 as well as new sidewalks on both sides of the highway. Under Hirt’s leadership, NJDOT worked closely with Byram officials and the public to incorporate features into the project requested by the Township. Deb’s engagement with Byram Township on this project extended beyond the completion of construction and included post-construction maintenance activities, demonstrating her commitment to the community engagement process and successful project outcomes.
I-78 Truck Weigh Stations, Greenwich Township, Warren County
One of the most controversial projects in recent New Jersey history, construction was completed on the I-78 Weigh Station in 2007. Deb regularly engaged local officials and the public to address concerns about building aesthetics and idling trucks. Thanks to Deb’s leadership and ability to constructively engaged with the community, a number of important features were incorporated into the project. Weigh Station buildings were designed to look like farm buildings and blend into the surrounding agricultural environment. “Weigh-in-Motion” technology was incorporated into the project to allow trucks to be weighed while traveling over a system of sensors embedded in the highway which calculate vehicle weight and then transmit this data to the control facility. This project is an excellent example of community engagement at work to address community concerns and deliver successful project outcomes.