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AWO NAMES NEW MIDCONTINENT VICE PRESIDENT

The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national trade association for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, announced today that Lynn Muench has been named its new Vice President for the AWO Midcontinent office in St. Louis, effective April 2. In this position, Ms. Muench will assume the primary advocacy role on regional industry issues in AWO's Midwest and Ohio Valley regions with the state legislatures and federal agencies. She will also have a lead role in educating federal lawmakers on the importance of the industry to the American economy, environment and quality of life.

Since 1999, Ms. Muench has held the position of Vice President of the Midwest Area River Coalition 2000 (MARC 2000) in St. Louis. There, Ms. Muench developed and implemented a multi-state, multi-media public education program, developed a grassroots network of community leaders, and managed media relations. Concurrently, Ms. Muench served as an Executive Board member of The Coalition to Preserve the Missouri River. She is also the 1st Vice President of the St. Louis Agri-Business Club.

Commenting on the selection, AWO President Tom Allegretti said, "Lynn's wide range of expertise in the agriculture, environmental, and media fields, combined with her knowledge of waterways transportation issues, will make her a strong, credible spokesperson to project the industry's economic and environmental benefits to key policymakers in the region."

Ms. Muench has worked extensively in the agriculture field as a sales consultant in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida. In addition, she previously served as a Research Assistant in the University of Wisconsin Agronomy Department. From 1985 to 1990, she held the position of Environmental Consultant for the Pacific Land Company in Immokalee, Florida, providing full service consulting on environmental matters and government regulations compliance.

Ms. Muench holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, one of the top agriculture schools in the nation, where she was senior class vice president and secretary of the National Agri-Marketing Association. In addition, she has completed coursework for a Masters of Science degree in Business Management from the University of South Florida - Fort Myers.