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Air Transport Association Names Steven Lott Vice President, Communications

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade association for the leading U.S. airlines, today named Steven Lott as Vice President, Communications.

Steve joins the ATA from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), where he served as Head of Communications for North America for the past four years. In that role, Lott helped established a presence in the United States and particularly in Washington, D.C., for IATA, which represents some 230 U.S. and international airlines.

In this new role, Lott will help drive communications strategy and work closely with the ATA government affairs and policy teams to advocate for the airline industry in Washington, D.C., and around the world. He will report to Jean Medina, who was named Senior Vice President of Communications in January.

"We are pleased to further strengthen our team to bolster our advocacy work on behalf of our members," said ATA President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. "Steve brings a depth of industry and association knowledge, and is a seasoned spokesman and proponent of aviation who understands well the importance of the airline industry as a driver of the global economy."

Prior to joining IATA, Steve served for more than a decade as a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and editor for Aviation Daily and Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, two of the premier trade journals covering the global airline industry.

"I welcome the opportunity to work with the new ATA leadership team to leverage effective communications and help build the brand and presence of the ATA in the United States and abroad in support of our members," Lott said. "I am pleased to take on this new role, which builds on my industry and Washington experience, as well as my work globally."

Lott will be based in Washington, D.C., and assumes the role today.

ABOUT ATA

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For more information about the airline industry, visitand follow us on Twitter @airlinesassn.

SOURCEAir Transport Association

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Leader in Technical Staffing is Awarded GSA Contract, Will Supply Expertise to Federal Government

services to the Federal government. APC will place their comprehensive staffing and HR solutions on GSA Advantage!®, the government's electronic ordering system (). Federal officials appreciate GSA Schedules as a means of procuring goods and services, knowing that companies on GSA Schedules have been qualified by the General Services Administration (GSA).

“This schedule presents our growing company with numerous opportunities including placing much needed technical personnel within various Federal departments,” stated Kevin Bender, Operations Manager & GSA Account Executive of APC, adding: “Our staffing solutions can be seamlessly integrated into most companies and are currently being deployed on a national level, which makes APC an ideal match for all branches of the government.”

GSA Application Services managed the tender process on behalf of Associated Professional Consultants, Inc. facilitating the application submission and negotiations with government buyers at the GSA. “We are committed to assisting small and medium-sized businesses with effective, turn-key solutions that enhances their competitive edge in gaining access to government spending,” said Joe Glennon, Chief Operating Officer.

About Associated Professional Consultants, Inc.:Associated Professional Consultants, Inc. (APC) is a leading provider of contract staffing, payroll services and Human Resources Solutions (HRS). Recognized as a Women Owned Small Business Enterprise by the SBA, the company is well-known for providing exceptional technical personnel within the following fields: Information Technology (IT); Programmers; Engineers; Designers; Drafters; Technicians; Field Survey & Installation; Inventory Control & Logistics; and Light Industrial Assemblers. In addition to the contract and professional staffing solutions, APC also offers a comprehensive payroll service for numerous clients on a national level. Visit:for more information.

About GSA Application Services:GSA Application Services, a division of Federal Verification Co., Inc., is a premier GSA advisory & solutions firm. With over 380 schedules awarded to date, GSA Application Services leverages its industry-leading experience and in-house staff of specialists to deliver professional “cradle-to-grave” GSA services & solutions to businesses nationally. Visitfor more information.

CONTACTS:For Associated Professional Consultants: Kevin Bender, Operations Manager at 770-777-8351For GSA Application Services: George Louli, MarCom Manager at 813.792.4600

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Kevin BenderAssociated Professional Consultants770.777.8351Email Information

Wall Street sags but recent rally curbs losses

U.S. stocks edged lower on Tuesday following three days of gains, but the recent rally has investors feeling less edgy about crises in Japan and Libya, and should help keep losses in check.

The CBOE Volatility Index (.VIX) fell 2.7 percent to 20.05, not far from its level before the crisis in Japan sparked a huge spike. That suggests investors are more sanguine about the continuing problems in Japan, the Middle East and North Africa.

Perry Piazza, director of investment strategy at Contango Capital Advisors in San Francisco, said that in the near term, the S&P may trade below its 50-day moving average at 1,304, which has been acting as a resistance level.

"The combination of Japan getting better and some progress in Libya has been enough to get people interested again," he said. "That said, there's still a lot of uncertainty and high commodity prices that are starting to dent confidence."

Fighting in Libya and unrest in Yemen have contributed to rising oil prices, which has dragged on equities. April U.S. crude futures rose 1.5 percent to $103.82 while Brent added 0.2 percent to $115.17 a barrel.

According to a recent report from EPFR Global, fund flows "took a marked turn toward the defensive in mid-March," following the crisis in Japan.

Jeffrey Davis, who oversees $5 billion as chief investment officer at Lee Munder Capital Group in Boston, said the more conservative positioning could limit future downside.

"Most investors are pretty safe now, and I suspect the VIX should continue to settle back down gradually," he said.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) shed 15.37 points, or 0.13 percent, to 12,021.16. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) slipped 4.19 points, or 0.32 percent, to 1,294.19. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) declined 11.10 points, or 0.41 percent, to 2,680.99.

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet and other ECB policymakers have reiterated they are ready to act quickly to guard against inflation.

At midday, volume was light, with about 3.56 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Contango's Piazza said the light volume wasn't surprising as "there's a sense that we're consolidating and there's not much conviction one way or the other."

Walgreen Co (WAG.N) was the S&P 500's biggest percentage loser, falling 6.4 percent to $39.31 after it reported its quarterly results.

One of the S&P's top percentage gainers was Netflix Inc (NFLX.O), which rose 3.2 percent to $219.64 after Credit Suisse upgraded the stock to "outperform.

In another upside move, Sprint Nextel Corp (S.N) rose 3.9 percent to $4.54 in a rebound from Monday's hefty losses.

The chief executive of Verizon Wireless said he has no interest in buying Sprint Nextel even as the company stands to lose its top position in the U.S. wireless market because of AT&T Inc's (T.N) planned acquisition of T-Mobile USA.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica; Editing by Jan Paschal)

FINAL CUTS: H is for Huffington; Popular Science first on iPad subs

Some media headlines that managed to evade the full-on blog treatment today:

The Huffington Post has trademarked the letter "H." ()

Popular Science is the first magazine to acceptfor selling subscriptions through its iTunes store. ()

Tina Brown has reportedly been describing the new Newsweek as "Vanity Fair meets the New Yorker." ()

The Daily really must love dogs. ()

Mainstream media, as opposed to amateur bloggers, plays the biggest role in making things trends on Twitter. ()

CNN will present awards to its amateur iReporters. ()

Meet the anonymous . ()

Obama honors 'gentleman' George Bush senior

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama honored German Chancellor Angela Merkel and America's "gentleman" 41st president George H.W Bush with America's highest civilian honor on Tuesday.

Merkel was not in Washington for the annual Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony but Obama said she would be making an official visit "soon" and he would present it then.

Obama also honored a list of political and cultural figures, including cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma, poet Maya Angelou and billionaire financier and philanthropist Warren Buffett.

Civil rights pioneer congressman John Lewis, baseball great Stan Musial and Jean Kennedy Smith, the sister of assassinated president John F. Kennedy and a disabilities campaigner, were also among honorees.

Obama praised Bush, father of his predecessor as president, George W. Bush, as a "diplomatic hand" who made possible what many had thought was impossible -- ending the Cold War without firing a shot.

"His humility and his decency reflects the very best of the American spirit. Those of you who know him, this is a gentleman, inspiring citizens to become points of light in service to others," Obama said.

Obama said that Merkel "dreamed of freedom" as she grew up in East Germany.

"When the wall finally crumbled and Germany was reunited, she broke barriers of her own, becoming the first East German and the first woman to become chancellor of Germany," Obama said.

"To America, Chancellor Merkel and the country she leads are among our closest allies. To me, she's a trusted global partner and a friend."

Obama joked that Buffett made a loss on his first-ever investment as an 11-year-old boy but hung onto the stock and it recovered to yield a small profit, launching a stellar career.

He also paid tribute to Buffett's career as a humanitarian: "You don't see Warren Buffett wearing fancy suits or driving fancy cars."

"Instead, you see him devoting the vast majority of his wealth to those around the world who are suffering, or sick, or in need of help.

Obama said leading US author, poet and civil rights campaigner Maya Angelou was renowned for "soaring poetry" and "towering prose" that had spoken to the conscience of a nation.