Allan attended Westfield State College and for the past 20 years he has worked at a variety of publications including the Union-News/Sunday Republican in Springfield., Mass., the Westfield Evening News in Westfield, Mass., The Union in Grass Valley, Calif., and the Sentinel & Enterprise in Fitchburg, Mass.

He was also news editor with the Eagle Times in Claremont, N.H., before switching to become editor of the weekly Argus-Champion in Newport, N.H. For the past 10 years, he has freelanced with numerous publications including the Western Massachusetts Law Tribune, the Brockton Enterprise, and Patriot Ledger. When not working, he spends time at the health club and enjoys frequenting coffee shops.