WASHINGTON, D.C. -At the invitation of Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt, Quad City International Airport Director of Aviation Bruce Carter, A.A.E., joined AAAE President Chip Barclay, A.A.E., and other aviation industry leaders today in a full day of discussions on critical aviation issues in Washington, D.C.

Carter was among several airport leaders in attendance at the invitation-only DOT Aviation Forum, convened to facilitate high-level discussions among industry stakeholders on the state of U.S. aviation. Among the issues discussed were the pending FAA reauthorization bill, airport funding issues including Passenger Facility Charges, the Next Generation Air Transportation System, and environmental challenges. Other topics included oil speculation, airline financial stability and international airline alliances.

Carter joined representatives from other airports, industry trade groups, airlines, labor unions, and key corporate stakeholders in helping assess the industry's current status and how to improve it.

After opening remarks from Secretary LaHood and Administrator Babbitt, attendees heard from three panels of experts on the "State of the Industry," "Events Shaping the Future of the Industry," and "Areas for Future Work."

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ABOUT AAAE: Founded in 1928, AAAE (www.aaae.org) is the world's largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE's 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C., and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.

Announcing new changes for doeGALLERY!  After 4 years, doeGALLERY is expanding!  Emily Christenson is moving down the hall to hew own studio space:  e|c, Suite 205 @ the Bucktown Center for the Arts.

This November's FINAL FRIDAY will be the grand opening of her new space and her new exhibition: Rivers and Rain, Pieces of Denali new paintings by Emily Christenson.

Exhibition runs November 23rd until December 31st, 2009.

"This exhibition features 11 works started in the rain or water in Denali National Park and Healy, Alaska in the Spring of 2008.  This series focuses on my impressions of the uniqueness of the landscape in and around Denali National Park," says Christenson.

Please join us for this special Reception and Studio Grand Opening on Friday, November 27, 2009 from 6pm until 9pm.

Davenport, IA - Russell Construction is proud to announce the recent promotion of Susan Burroughs from Financial Accountant to Accounting Department Manager. Her new responsibilities include oversight and supervision of staff, management of accounting department functions, and collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer to complete financial statements.

As a seasoned Russell Construction employee, Susan has been with the company for 10 years, eight of which were in her previous role as a Financial Accountant. Initially, Susan served as an accounts payable clerk for two years. Her dedication to excellence has earned her this valuable promotion.

Angela Bagby, the Director of Marketing & Client Relations at Russell was recently selected by 24 of her peers to receive the Young Professional (YP) of the Year Award. This award is given on behalf of The Network, a Quad Cities initiative of the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and the Iowa Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce to recognized leadership, talent and community involvement.

Angela has been deeply involved with The Network, serving on the Leadership Council, as well as an instrumental leader behind the inaugural i.network program which engages young professional interns outside the four walls of their workplace and college campus in hopes that they will stay in the Quad Cities upon graduation. Angela is also involved with the American Heart Association, Family Resources and United Way.

Judy Cushman, Executive Assistant to Jim Russell, was honored at the 22nd Annual Older Employee of the Year Awards Ceremony, as an Employee of Merit, from the Generations Area Agency on Aging, located in Davenport, IA. Judy, alongside twelve other individuals and one employer, were honored at an awards ceremony on November 10, 2009.

Judy has been with Russell for six years and serves as an integral employee, assisting Jim Russell, the Executive Team and Board of Directors. Her dedication to her job, impeccable organizational skills and positive attitude makes her a valuable asset to Russell.

Established in 1983, Russell Construction is a regional provider of Construction Management, Design Build and General Contracting services.  For more information on Russell Construction, please visit their corporate website at www.russellco.com.

Less Smoking Leads to More Birthdays

ATLANTA - November 5, 2009 - As the official sponsor of birthdays, the American Cancer Society marks the 34th Great American Smokeout on November 19 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life - one that can lead to reducing cancer risk and creating more birthdays. Researchers say that quitting smoking can increase life expectancy - smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy; those who quit at age 55 gain about five years; and even long term smokers who quit at 65 gain three years ¹ . Smokers who want to quit can call the American Cancer Society Quit For Life® Program operated and managed by Free & Clear® at 1-800-227-2345 for tobacco cessation and coaching services that can help increase their chances of quitting for good.

Research shows that people who stop smoking before age 50 can cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who continue to smoke. Smokers who quit also reduce their risk of lung cancer - ten years after quitting, the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. Some of the health effects of quitting are almost instant, too - heart rate and blood pressure drop 20 minutes after quitting.

"We know that quitting smoking is tough and that most smokers have to try several times before quitting for good," said Alan G. Thorson, MD, FACS, national volunteer president for the American Cancer Society. "The American Cancer Society offers a variety of effective resources ranging from online tips and tools to personalized telephone coaching by trained specialists. We hope that smokers will use the Great American Smokeout to map out a course of action that will help them to quit, and in turn to stay well and celebrate more birthdays."

The Great American Smokeout Web site (www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans) contains user-friendly tips and tools towards a smoke-free life. In addition to tip sheets and calculators, the site also offers downloadable desktop helpers to assist with planning to quit and succeeding in staying tobacco-free. The Quit Clock allows users to pick a quit day within 30 days, then counts down the selected day with tips for each day; and the Craving Stopper helps smokers beat cravings by offering a fun distraction. The American Cancer Society created the trademarked concept for and held its first Great American Smokeout in 1976 as a way to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for a day. One million people quit smoking for a day at the 1976 event in California. The Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to commit to making a long-term plan to quit smoking for good.

Important facts about tobacco use:

• Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S.
• Cigarette smoking accounts for about 443,000 premature deaths - including 49,400 in nonsmokers.
• Thirty percent of cancer deaths, including 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, can be attributed to tobacco.
• Smoking also accounts for $193 billion in health care expenditures and productivity losses.
• Great progress is being made in reducing tobacco use in the U.S., with adult smoking rates in 2007 declining among all adults to 19.8 percent.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, about 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

¹Taylor DH et al., Benefits of smoking cessation for longevity. American Journal of Public Health 92:990-996 (2002)