Hassett Air Express, a leader in time-sensitive freight services, is experiencing operational growth throughout the United States. Hassett is enhancing its executive team to manage the new areas of growth. The following promotions are effective immediately: Scott Leali, Vice President Eastern Region; Dennis Cartwright, Vice President Western Region; and Don Prentice, Vice President of Customer Relations.

“Each of these men exemplifies the dedication, integrity, talent, and leadership that define ‘The Hassett Way’,” states President, Michelle Halkerston. “Dennis, Don, and Scott have a wealth of knowledge and experience. They are committed to the growth and success of our organization.”

Scott Leali began his career with Hassett in 1983 as a night operations agent. When Hassett expanded operations to the south, Scott was there to open Hassett’s Atlanta facility where he served as the facility’s General Manager. Tapping into his knowledge and experience, he was transferred to the company’s Philadelphia facility in 1990 where he expanded East Coast operations by assisting in opening Hassett’s Dulles, VA and Newark, NJ facilities.

Dennis Cartwright joined the company in 1989 as a part-time warehouse/driver employee. Dennis’s focused training as a Transportation Specialist in the United States Air Force quickly made him an asset to the Atlanta facility’s team. Dennis was named Terminal Manager of the Atlanta facility before being transferred to the West Coast to oversee the Los Angeles operation. He was named General Manager of Los Angeles in 1993. Both Dennis and Scott will be responsible for all operational activities in their respective regions. Central Region operations will continue to be managed by Mike Stone, Senior Vice President of Operations.

Don Prentice has been with Hassett since 1979. He has held several positions at the company including Industrial and Office Moving Specialist, Operations Manager, and most recently, National Director of Customer Service. As Vice President of Customer Relations, Don will be responsible for the Customer Service team, air carrier performance, and sales support. He actively participates in industry related organizations and work groups, such as Red Tag News Publications and the Airforwarders Association, to seek out new solutions for our customers’ transportation challenges. Don is also a member of the National Association for Down Syndrome.

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August 2, 2005 - ELMHURST, Ill. – Hassett Air Express, a leader in time-definite freight services, will mark its 25th anniversary in the highly competitive air express industry. Founded in 1980 to fulfill the time-sensitive, expedited delivery needs of domestic and international shippers, Hassett will celebrate its silver jubilee in September.

Hassett’s secret to longevity in the industry has been the company’s ongoing ability to adhere to “old-fashioned values.” “While countless competitors have come and gone during this 25-year span of time, Hassett has continued to thrive by providing personalized solutions and attention to detail for every customer, great benefits and advancement opportunities for employees, remaining debt-free and sticking to a plan for consistent, sustained growth,” explained Hassett Air Express President Michelle Halkerston. In fact, Hassett boasts many customer relationships that date back to its inception, and 36% of its employees have been with the company for over 10 years. As a result of these committed, long-standing relationships with customers and employees, combined with excellence in services provided and precise execution of corporate strategic plans, Hassett enjoyed 13% growth in 2004 and is on target to experience double-digit growth again in 2005.

Hassett’s roots extend back to the early 1920’s, when a small, family-owned moving and storage company opened its doors for business. At the onset, Hassett was a local residential and commercial moving company. As an agent for Allied Van Lines, Hassett’s operations quickly expanded internationally. Then, in 1980, Hassett Air Express was formed to fulfill the time-sensitive, expedited delivery needs of international and domestic customers.

Today, Hassett Air Express is a leader in time-definite freight services serving organizations from a wide array of industries. The company’s reputation for quality service and ingenuity in moving time-sensitive material is known worldwide. While “Air Express” is in its name, Hassett’s capabilities are not limited to shipping by air. With the end goal never deviating from on-time delivery, Hassett provides secure, convenient multi-mode solutions to meet each customer’s specific transportation requirements.

As Hassett Air Express celebrates its silver jubilee, the company also acknowledges another key to its success—the employees. Chairman and CEO, Terry Sherman comments, “The Hassett Team’s efforts consistently go above and beyond customers’ expectations. It is because of this dedication that Hassett has been successful, profitable and growing for 25 consecutive years.” Congratulations to Hassett Air Express for achieving this important milestone.

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October 1, 2003 - ELMHURST, Ill. - Hassett Air Express, a leader in time-sensitive freight services, has named Michelle Halkerston as President, effective immediately. Terry Sherman will remain as Chairman and CEO.

Michelle joined Hassett in 2001 as Vice President of Strategic Planning. She worked with the Hassett executive team to identify new market segments and growth areas. She was also responsible for the company’s technology initiatives, which included significant investments in a new web site, sales support software and a new infrastructure for Hassett’s nationwide network. A 17 year veteran of the transportation and logistics industry, Michelle held senior management positions at ShipLogix, Caliber Logistics (now operating as FedEx Supply Chain Services) and Penske Logistics.

“Succession planning is critical for all companies. We view this as an important step to ensure the ongoing success of our company and our employees,” said Sherman. “Michelle has developed strong relationships with our employees and customers over the past two years. She has the right combination of leadership skills and industry experience to expand our already leading market position."

“I am excited to be part of a company that has a long history of success and is an acknowledged leader in its field,” Halkerston stated. “It is a testament to our team and our customers that we’ve come through the past two years stronger than ever. The future holds many growth opportunities.”

Mike Stone, a 26-year Hassett veteran, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations. Mike has been instrumental in developing Hassett’s nationwide operations network, including an agent network that spans more than 300 members worldwide. In his new position, Mike will continue to be the key liaison with Hassett’s air and ground transportation service providers.

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August 20, 2003 - ELMHURST, Ill. - Hassett Moving and Storage, parent company of Hassett Air Express, recently achieved a very important certification in its Household Moving Division, FIDI FAIM. FAIM certification is obtained through FIDI, The Federation of International Furniture Removers. FIDI is an international organization whose purpose is to create an umbrella beneath which companies can exchange traffic with a reasonable expectation of good service and financial security. This association’s members include the top movers in the world. Hassett’s Household Division has been a member of FIDI for over five years. Recently, FIDI membership qualifications changed; members must now have FAIM certification to remain an active member of the organization. FAIM is a quality standard certification similar to Hassett Air Express’s ISO 9001 Certification. To be certified with FAIM, all aspects of the company must be reviewed—from Sales and Administration to Operations and Security. Always maintaining the highest standards of the industry, Hassett’s Household Division was immediately up for the challenge of achieving FAIM

Hassett’s FAIM certification process began six months ago. Doug Christel, General Manager of the Household Division, noted that the entire operational process had to be broken down for examination by the certification board, including facility and fleet audits. “The whole certification process required a great team effort. Everyone involved pitched in to achieve a common goal,” states Christel

Ed Boyk, Vice President of Fleet and Safety, observed, “The constant throughout the history of Hassett is the commitment to the highest degree of quality service to our customers. Hassett Air Express’s ISO certification, and now Household’s FAIM certification, come as no surprise to me because our systems and people are all geared toward this goal.” The Hassett Way has come through again as we reach the highest measures of quality in the industries that we serve!

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Hassett has long understood the value of the Internet, launching its initial web site in 1997. The new site was designed to meet the information needs of Hassett's diverse customer base. A secure area of the site, My H-Trac, allows customers to perform key functions related to the movement and tracking of their freight. 

The My H-Trac section includes Pick-up Requests, Quotes, Track & Trace, and Reports & Queries. The Pick-up Request feature captures all the information needed to create a transportation shipment. The Quik Quote tool allows shippers to request quotes online, including international shipments. The Reports & Queries section includes a build-your-own query tool that provides multiple selection and sorting options. A unique feature is the ability to create customized download files that can be easily imported into other software applications. 

"I use Hassett's web site to monitor the movement and delivery of all my shipments. It gives me the freedom to get the data I want -- from my home, from the office, even while I am on the road," states Dennis Farley, Senior Distribution Manager for ESPN The Magazine. "The new web site is very easy to use, and has all the information I need or could ever want - whenever I need it. I check on shipment details before they ship, confirm quotes on freight moves, produce my own delivery reports for internal distribution, audit invoices and print bills -- all with a few clicks of the mouse." 

"We solicited customer input at the beginning of the design process to ensure that their key information needs were met. The response to the new site has been very positive," notes Michelle Halkerston, Vice President of Strategic Planning for Hassett Air Express. "Our customers have 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access to their shipment information."

About Hassett Air Express
Hassett Air Express has been a leader in time-sensitive freight services since 1980. Headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois, Hassett has a global network of facilities and agents to support its customers. From same day service to time definite alternatives, Hassett offers a wide variety of transportation options that gets freight where it needs to be, when it needs to be there. To learn more about Hassett Air Express and its service offerings, please visit the company's Web site at www.hassettair.com or call 1-800-323-9422. 

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