Classified Ads---Sales Manager

(These ads are “free” to those seeking employment or looking
to improve their position)

 

Bayville, NJ Dedicated individual seeking a account management position, 3 years leasing experience and 15+ years sales experience. Resume furnished upon request, email Frank at weag4th@gmail.com .

Fort Myers, Florida Very experienced and strong skills with both Captive and Specialty Sales Management. Over 25 years , will relocate and travel---successful and team player. e-mail: tlinspections@gmail.com

Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

[headlines]
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Goodbye LEAF Financial
by Christopher Menkin

While LEAF Financial, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is not talking, confirming or denying that four more employees were let go, leaving almost a skeleton staff in Philadelphia, there are more confirmation from those close to the scene. According to one insider, it was the director of marketing and sales who is no longer there as well as the asset manager (Don't have the titles on the two others at this time.)

In LEAF Financial cutting back the divisions that were profitable, such as LEAF Specialty, was actually the end of the company. From the parent, the better sales personnel left a long time ago when deals couldn't be approved or funded that they were submitting. Vendor accounts also were leaving. Mistakes became more apparent, such as what was originally to be a $5+ million per month account. The Gateway Computer vendor account was allegedly purchased from another leasing company for six figure dollar amount. It was reported the Gateway Computer relationship ended up being a total flop. An insider told Leasing News that LEAF never recouped enough profit to offset their investment, including reportedly hiring an on-site manager and staff to sit at Gateway Computer in Iowa.

While this is not a current example, the move to LEAF Commercial is and its direction is the same as its competitors. The vendor channel is saturated with a bombardment of leasing companies. Most are hungry, highly knowledgeable in the field and very hands-on service oriented. Vendor business has changed and passing all or part of the risk through vendor recourse isn’t happening anymore. The movement also is toward franchisors and "captive lessor" underwriting business. We are back to “cost of funds” to get into the main stream, not who is the fastest or most liberal.

Being able to get all credits done quickly is now the norm with GreatAmerica perhaps the fastest, but LEAF will have to focus on a narrower band of credit quality, maybe within the A & B racks, because of more stringency in lending arrangements with Guttenheim, their new underwriters. That, in combination with their higher cost of fund, limited warehouse capacity, and weaker sales management, will spell disaster for the future prospects of LEAF Commercial.

Many of those who built up the company, some from companies that were purchased, are no longer there, including veterans like Bob Hunter and Fred MacDonald, to name a few. There are a few key veterans left, but they are as rudderless as Dwight Galloway was in finding a funding source to keep his operation going. As Dwight told Leasing News, several years ago it would have taken him a short time to attract the group, but not today, and the ones who had promised to come through, failed in their attempt to get a bank going for the vehicle (as CIT, Marlin, and others have done.)

There are some key people left, and perhaps the past Leasing News articles have been too critical, especially on CEO Crit DeMent role. It really is a sad story, and can generally be attributed to poor market timing.

The bottom line is I believe the main problem all along has been Resource America, the parent, their attitude in the funding of the leasing entity and the structure. The founders of Resource America, where it is rumored they have the ability to buy back the company, are quite rich. Their natural gas holdings in Pennsylvania make them billionaires and other holdings, even if in real estate, are quite substantial.

Resource America’s problem, according to their SEC filings, has been cash flow. Letting LEAF Specialty, Columbia, South Carolina and the problems with the landlord (as told confidentially to Leasing News), as well as the SEC filings, reveal their lack of cash at the time, and perhaps even today. Discounters who have “reserve accounts,” you may not get the money back.

The LEAF model was similar to First Sierra, GE Capital, and others, but with a twist, which I believe was built on “mirrors.” Those in the business the last 30 years can testify to the model that can be traced back to the purchase of US Leasing, San Francisco, California, definitely earlier for East coast leasing companies.

The central operation buys a successful company with the idea of keeping its personality and means of success, but making it “more efficient” and “less operation cost” by merging it into the main central operation. What happens is the personality changes, and management lets the people who made the company successful go as they did not become like central company wanted them to behave, or absorbs some of them, but changes the approach.

What they actually have bought then is a portfolio, including the vendors who referred the business, and hopefully repeat customers. The portfolio runs its course, the vendors move elsewhere, the customers have kept their original sales person or have problems with the present operation, and depending on the economy itself and the credit and type of lease, the portfolio plays out. Along the way the “Evergreen clause” helps in the profits, or in the sale adds payments, and often residuals get changed from $1.00 to 10% or “fair market value.”

It happened a lot, including with GE and Colonial Pacific, where Leasing News received many complaints, many of them “bookkeeping errors,” and then complaints from others companies, not Colonial, but other companies where it is highly suspicious they were “errors.” Puget Sound Leasing under the old owners is a good example as in depositions on the way security deposits were not counted, extra payments requested, and purchase options change. (1)

Along the way, the buyer of the company can go after the vendors, and at one time, the brokers, then their vendors. And as long as the economy is expanding, just like real estate, the value of the portfolio increases. In many of these, there are reserves from discounters and vendors against specific leases.

In the First Sierra situation, there were residuals and other matters that many of those who jointed eventually sued for and won, from the late Charlie Lester, all with agreements to keep the case confidential, which he and others did.

The twist with the LEAF Financial was the manner in which Resource America funded the transactions, in different “trusts,” where they made a management fee for putting the package together, and also took other fees along with it. Similar to the real estate market, as long as it was growing, it worked, as the fees and buy rates worked to their favor---as long as the cash flow was there.

So like the many banks that appear in the Leasing News Monday “Bank Beat,” things were growing really well until the bottom dropped out. They had run out of capital to make the transaction continue to work, particularly when it started going the other way. Many tried to raise more money, and perhaps if they did, they could have lived out the storm.

DeMent hit the “Perfect Storm” before and that is how he got connected to Resource America--- but this time, not only has the market changed, including what is now being called, “The Great Recession,” but the now very fast internet and matching software has dramatically changed the marketplace, bringing a paradigm to the models in place. Employees do not need to go to a physical office and can work all the time zones, faster, more efficient, at less cost, with better results. Not only did the capital change, but the business model also changed, both in the wrong direction for LEAF.

What does management do? Exactly what GE did, cut! If you are large enough, you can ride this out. Perhaps first to go from the operating capital is advertising, then marketing, then sales who are not making it (although it affects all sales) and then you start getting to the bone. Just when you need the help more than before, it is not there. It doesn’t increase capital and following an old model because it worked in the past is quite misleading. In fact, it is a trap that many companies today cannot recover from.

It appears the days that companies that were doing a lot of small ticket were merged then the staff let go and changes in the marketplace have ended the domination by such companies that could stumble to profitability such as LEAF. Yes, it is a sad story.

(1) “J’Accuse” by 12 employees of Puget Sound Leasing
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/March%202009/03-09-09.htm#puget

((Please Click on Bulletin Board to learn more information))
(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)

[headlines]
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Leasing Companies Out of Business
plus No Longer taking Broker/Discounting Business

Companies with an * are no longer in business. The others are companies that were taking broker business, but announced that they no longer are accepting broker business. Many have also down-sized or are managing an existing portfolio.

More details are available in this list by company name:

http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm

Advantage Business Capital, Lake Oswego, Oregon
AEL Financial, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
(No longer taking new broker business) 
Alliance Financial, Syracuse, New York 
Balboa Capital, Irvine, Ca
Bankers Healthcare Group, Weston, FL.
*C and J Leasing Corp, Des Moines, Iowa
*Carlton Financial Corporation, Wayzata, Minnesota
*Chesterfield Financial, Chesterfield, Missouri 
*Churchill Group/Churchill Leasing, Jericho, NY
CIT Group (limited)
Columbia Bank Leasing, Tacoma, WA
Commercial Equipment Lease, Eugene, Oregon 
Concord Financial Services, Long Beach, California
Court Square, Malvern, Pennsylvania
*Creative Capital Leasing Group, LLC, San Diego, CA
Direct Capital, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Diversified Financial Service, Omaha, NE
Dolsen Leasing, Bellevue/Yakima, Washington
Equipment Finance Partners, a division of Altec, Birmingham, Alabama 
Evans National Leasing, Inc., Hamburg, NY
Enterprise Funding, Grand Rapids, Michigan 
*Excel Financial Leasing, Lubbock Texas
*First Corp.(IFC subsidiary), Morton Grove, Illinois
First Federal Financial Services, Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
First Republic Bank, San Francisco, CA
Frontier Capital, Teaneck New Jersey 
*GCR Capital, Safety Harbor, Florida 
GE Capital, Conn (limited)
Global Funding LLC., Clearwater, FL
*Greystone, Burlington, MA
*Heritage Pacific Leasing, Fresno, CA
Hillcrest Bank Leasing, Overland Park, KS (Parent bank sold)
Huntington Equipment Finance, Vendor Finance Group, Bellevue, Washington
*IFC Credit Corp., Morton Grove, Illinois
Irwin Financial (Irwin Union Bank), Columbus, Indiana 
Irwin Union Bank, F.S.B. (Louisville, Kentucky)
Lakeland Bank, Montville, NJ
LaSalle Systems Leasing
*Latitude Equipment Leasing, Marlton, New Jersey 
*Leaf Specialty Finance, Columbia, South Carolina
*LEAF Third Party Funding, Santa Barbara, Ca.
Lombard, part of Royal Bank of Scotland, worldwide
Marlin Business Services, Mount Laurel, NJ (accepting no new brokers, they may have opened for a select fee, but no more at this time, they say.)
M&T Credit (Bank)
*MericapCredit, Lisle, Illinois
Merrill Lynch Financial
Midwest Leasing Group, Livonia, Minnesota
National City, Cleveland, Ohio
*Navigator (Pentech subsidiary) San Diego, California
OFC Capital, Roswell, Georgia
Old National Bank, Evansville, Illinois
Pentech Financial, Campbell, CA
*PFF Bancorp, Inc, Pomona, CA
Pinnacle Business Finance, Fife, Washington
*Pioneer Capital Corporation, Addison, Texas
PredictiFund, a subsidiary of Capital Access Network, Inc
Popular Finance, St. Louis, Missouri
Radiance-Capital, Tacoma, WA
Rational Technology Solutions, Rolling Meadows, IL
*Reliant National Finance, Jacksonville, Florida
Sandy Springs, Olney, MD
Sovereign Bank, Melville, New York
Specialty Funding, Albuquerque, NM
Sun Trust Equipment Finance & Leasing, Baltimore, Maryland 
*SunBridge Capital, Mission, Kansas
Suncoast Equipment Funding Corp., Tampa, Florida
TCF Equipment Finance, Minnetonka, Minnesota 
TechLease, Morgan Hill, California
Textron Financial
*Triad Leasing & Financial, Inc., Boise, Idaho
*Union Capital Partners, Midvale, Utah
US Bank, Manifest Funding, Marshall, Minnesota
(new requirement: large yearly funding) 
US Bank, Middle-Market, Portland, Oregon 
Velocity Financial Group, Rosemont, Illinois
VenCore, Portland, Oregon (former company Len Ludwig)
*Vision Capital, San Diego, California
Wachovia Bank Leasing
*Washington Mutual Financial
Western Bank, Devils Lake, ND
*Westover Financial, Inc., Santa Ana, California

(Note: Should a company policy have changed, please contact kitmenkin@leasingnews.org)

Funders looking for new Brokers:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/New_Broker.htm

"Broker/Lessor" looking for broker business:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Brokers/brokerlessor_bussiness.html

NAELB Broker Exchange
http://www.leasingnews.org/Pages/broker_exchange.html

 

[headlines]
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The Curious Case of Sheldon Player

(contains $900,000 in cash)

The Curious Case of Sheldon Player was first brought to Leasing News readers May 2, 2007 as an Alert about Sheldon Players past involving Greyhound Leasing fraud conviction which appeared to be "Déjà vu" all over again.

Sheldon Player was sent to jail from the 1985 conviction for fraud involved in Greyhound Leasing, basically leasing equipment that did not exist. Leasing News also did an interview with him about what happened, according to his side of the story (1). It appears he did the same with Equipment Acquisition Resources, Palatine, Illinois, then got involved in Jackson Hole, Wyoming bottled water franchise offering, many casino debts paid by his company, it is claimed by the bankruptcy trustee, $900,000 in a duffle bag caught by the FBI when he landed in Denver-claiming casino winnings, yet he remains scott free as the leasing companies have put their cases on hold against the officer's personally as it appears Sheldon Player and his estranged wife Donna Malone have reportedly filed personal bankruptcy (another curious case as on all documents she does not sign as “Player,” but he and everyone calls her his wife.) It should also be noted the records of the bankruptcy were not able to be located on line.

The latest are instructions to go ahead with the E.A.R. Bankruptcy plan of July 15, 2010, as it appears all the matters have been met, meaning all assets sold, creditors tallied, and IRS settlement, so it is time to proceed. It does not involve the officers, and seems it will not if the bankruptcy filings are correct. There won’t be much left over to be divided, let alone pay for the leasing company’s attorneys time and work on the case.

Whether the FBI is going to take action is another curious element.

These are the result of the leasing companies ( the ones who filed against the company and officers):

ICON EAR, LLC and ICON EAR II, LLC for $21.500.653.30 was dismissed without prejudice to the defendants Donna Malone and Mark Anstett on January 8, 2010. It should be noted the collateral was put up for auction, and having no buyers, ICON purchased for the demand price to settle matters to not be included in the corporate bankruptcy, it appears.

Leasing One Corporation on January 14, 2010 received a default judgment for $295,593 against Defendant Sheldon Player and Donna Malone in the principal amount of $2,248,253.05, including the legal interest rate until paid.

Home Federal Savings Bank for $3,208,000 was dismissed without prejudice May 10, 2010.

The case brought by Comerica Leasing, a division of Comerica bank for $9,999,000 was dismissed as to defendants' Sheldon Player and Donna Malone without prejudice on August 27, 2010.

The cased brought by Lyon Financial Services, Inc. d/b/a a U.S. Bancorp Manifest Funding Services for $9,999,000 was "stayed" on March 29, 2011 "as Defendants Sheldon Player and Machine Tools Direct, Inc. have filed a notice of their bankruptcy proceedings under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In light of the automatic stay occasioned by their bankruptcy filing, the case is stayed as to them. Because the case is now stayed as to all defendants, all of whom have filed for bankruptcy, the clerk is directed to place this case on the court's suspense docket. If developments warrant, either of the parties may filed a properly noticed petition to lift the stay and move this case back to the court's active docket."

Leasing News was unable to find the bankruptcy filings of either Sheldon Player or Donna Malone.

Leasing News did locate a Chapter 7 filing for Machine Tools Direct, Inc., 1521 Commerce Drive, Carlisle, PA. 17015, the vendor of several E.A.R. transactions.

(1) Sheldon Player, Greyhound Leasing, Déjà vu?
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/May%202007/05-04-07.htm#deja

Latest Ruling to Proceed with Bankruptcy:
http://www.leasingnews.org/PDF/EAR_bankruptcy_to_proceed.pdf

Sheldon Player articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Sheldon_Player.htm

(Assistance on this article came from John Kenny Receivables Management.)

John Kenny Receivables Management www.jrkrmdirect.com • End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement • Fraud Investigation • Credit Investigations • Asset Searches • Skip-tracing • Third-party Commercial Collections The Solution to Your Credit & Accounts Receivable Needs John Kenny 315-866-1167 |  John@jkrmdirect.com

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for investigations
and background information provided by John Kenny)

[headlines]
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NAELB Moves Atlanta Conference Date for NEFA

The scheduled date of the National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers in Atlanta, Georgia has been moved from September 16-17 to October 14-15, 2011 at the Marriott Atlanta Buckhead Hotel & Conference Center.

This then does not conflict with the National Equipment Finance Association conference scheduled for September 15-17, Minneapolis, Minnesota at The Marquette.

"The NAELB Board of Directors became aware that our Eastern Regional and the NEFA Conference were on overlapping dates. We have the flexibility with our hotel to move the dates and that should work out better for the attendees and the funding sources.

“Our new dates are October 14th and 14th. We hope this will work better for both associations and wish NEFA a good conference."

Sincerely,
Bud Callahan, CLP
President
National Equipment Leasing
9801 Fall Creek Road #342
Indianapolis, IN 46256
Direct Phone: 317-823-0454 Fax: 317-823-0474
E-Mail: bcallahan@nationalequipmentleasing.com
Website: www.nationalequipmentleasing.com

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

High Compensation to High Achievers Leasing Subsidiary of a National Bank Holding Company looking for experienced professionals (10+ years of experience in commercial finance industry) who can originate a volume of bank-qualified credits (primarily SEC reporting companies). Average transaction size from $1-20MM. Enjoy private office in our Southern California location. We offer excellent commission with a draw. Send resume in strictest confidence to: rose.jones98@yahoo.com

Syndication Manager Rancho Cucamonga, CA Knowledge of transportation industry a plus, but not required. Compensation commensurate with experience contact: wdalton@crlease.com We can finance or lease any make or model of truck, bus, or equipment

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

Fastest Growing Cities in the United States, 2011

No. 1 –
Olive Branch, Mississippi
Number of households: 14,724
Change YOY: 4.56 percent
Change since 2000: 63.47 percent
Average household income: $102,803
(30 minutes from Memphis)

No. 2 –
Keller, Texas
Number of households: 20,429
Change YOY: 4.91 percent
Change since 2000: 108.61 percent
Average household income: $120,348
(Suburb of Fort Worth)

No. 3 –
Ellicott City, Maryland
Number of households: 25,831
Change YOY: 2.17 percent
Change since 2000: 20.46 percent
Average household income: $121,583
(Between hubs of Washington & Baltimore)

No. 4 -
South Jordan, Utah
Number of households: 14,186
Change YOY: 4.08 percent
C hange since 2000: 89.4 percent
Average household income: $107,908
(Growth of Salt Lake Valley)

No. 5
- North Creek, Washington
Number of households: 12,669
Change YOY: 4.25 percent
Change since 2000: 35.5 percent
Average household income: $103,930
(23 miles northwest of Seattle)

No. 6 –
Cary, North Carolina
Number of households: 66,596
Change YOY: 4.09 percent
Change since 2000: 60.15 percent
Average household income: $103,500
(Near Raleigh, fast growing area)

No. 7
- Calhoun, Georgia
Number of households: 11,364
Change YOY: 4.55 percent
Change since 2000: 36.31 percent
Average household income: $68,905
(Growing area)

No. 8 –
Madison, Alabama
Number of households: 18.042
Change YOY: 2.76 percent
Change since 2000: 50.45 percent
Average household income: $97,616
(top school system, low unemployment)

No. 9 –
West Lafayette, Indiana
Number of households: 16,876
Change YOY: 4.67 percent
Change since 2000: 28.61 percent
Average household income: $89,704
(Suburban city to Purdue University
and Purdue Research Park, across Wabash
River from Lafayette, Indiana)

No. 10
- Linton Hall, Virginia
Number of households: 10,462
Change YOY: 2.89 percent
Change since 2000: 239.45 percent
Average household income: $119,312
(35 miles from Washington area)

Full Story: America' Fastest Growing Cities, 2011
http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/americas-fastest-growing-cities-2011.html

Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

Swashbuckling drama (“The Princess of Montpensier”) and prehistoric documentaries (“Cave of Forgotten Dreams”) provide moviegoers with an exceptionally intriguing double-feature, while acclaimed animation (“The Illusionist”) vie with blasts from the past (“Blow Out,” “Tennessee’s Partner”) for DVD viewers.

In theaters:

The Princess of Montpensier (IFC Films): The swashbuckler genre is thrillingly revived in this exceptional French drama, which combines history with adventure to ripping effect. Set during the religious war between Catholics and Protestants that swept 16th-century France, it follows the travails of Marie (Melanie Thierry), the lovely young aristocrat who pines for dashing Henri (Gaspard Ulliel) even as her hand in marriage is promised to a man she’s never met. When her new husband is called to the battlefront and she meets the worldly Count of Chabbanes (Lambert Wilson), Marie becomes involved in the dangerous world of royal intrigue. Director Bertrand Tavernier, a highly regarded veteran of French cinema, is a marvel at bringing sweep and immediacy to costume dramas, and this gem finds him in top form. With subtitles.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (IFC Films): A tireless cinematic explorer, legendary German director Werner Herzog (“Grizzly Man”) takes viewers on another entrancing journey with this one-of-a-kind documentary. Gaining exclusive access into the Chauvet caves in the south of France, Herzog takes his cameras into rocky formations and wall drawings which have somehow remained in outstanding condition for 30,000 years. A filmmaker always fascinated with the extremes of human endeavor in fictional features as well as documentaries, Herzog explores with palpable awe and characteristically off-kilter humor the space we still shared with mankind’s ancestors. The result is an eye-filling tour of humanity’s earliest remains, with the extra bonus of a 3-D presentation that tests the format’s visual possibilities rather than just relying on its spectacle.

Netflix Tip: After creating some of cinema’s most notoriously challenging works (“Aguirre, the Wrath of God,” “Fitzcarraldo”), Werner Herzog found a no less remarkable second career as a documentarian. “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” may be his latest work, but it’s far from his first. Visit Netflix and catch up with this fearless artist’s earlier docs, ranging from “Little Dieter Needs to Fly” (1998) and “My Best Fiend” (1999) to “Wheel of Time” (2003) and the award-winning “Grizzly Man” (2005).

On DVD:

Blow Out (Criterion): One of the most controversial filmmakers to emerge from the acclaimed Hollywood of the 1970s, Brian De Palma (“Carrie,” “The Untouchables”) made perhaps his best work with this remarkable 1981 thriller, which mixes gripping suspense with sharp political critique. John Travolta stars as Jack Terry, a brooding sound-effects man who, while working on the set of a horror movie, accidentally incriminating sounds related to the mysterious death of a politician. As he pieces together the evidence and becomes involved with Sally (Nancy Allen), a call-girl who knew the murdered man, Jack slowly uncovers traces of a shadowy conspiracy that puts their lives in danger. Exciting, brilliantly stylish and uncompromisingly dark, this is one of the best movies of the 1980s, and worthy of its deluxe Criterion treatment.

The Illusionist (Sony): French animator Sylvain Chomet, whose acclaimed 2003 feature “The Triplets of Belleville” carried hints of silent-movie comedy, offers another gem of gentle whimsy with this gorgeously imaginative fantasy. Using as its basis a screenplay by the legendary French comic Jacques Tati, the film follows an aging magician (patterned on Tati himself and voiced by Jean-Claude Donda) whose tricks are becoming increasingly outdated in the changing landscape of stage entertainment. He finds a kindred spirit in Alice (Eilidh Rankin), a teenage girl whose childlike wonder makes him believe once more in the power of magic. Filled with eye-filling animation and delicate slapstick gags, the movie should beguile audiences and hopefully pique their interest in Tati’s earlier movies.

Tennessee’s Partner (VCI Releasing): A genial storyteller whose career spanned almost fifty years, Allan Dwan directed in the 1950s a series of Westerns which, though not as well-known as the ones by John Ford or Anthony Mann, are just as much sturdy entertainment and in need of rediscovery. This 1955 Old West adventure stars John Payne as Tennessee, a tough gambler who becomes pals with a loner known as Cowpoke (a pre-politics Ronald Reagan) after he saves his life. Their new friendship is tested, however, when Tennessee meets Cowpoke’s fiancée (Coleen Gray) and traces of a shared, troubled past emerge. A prime example of Dwan’s cinematic style, full of action and humor as it spins its tale of friendship and betrayal in the wild frontier.

### Press Release ############################

Dominion Leasing Software Conference Report

Powhatan, VA --- The Williamsburg Lodge, located in beautiful, historic Williamsburg, Virginia was the host site for the first annual Dominion Leasing Software User Conference.

The Conference proved to be a great experience for the conference attendees and the Dominion Leasing Software staff. The various breakout sessions and the free periods provided a perfect opportunity for the attendees to network, and share valuable experiences. The sessions gave the attendees the chance to learn best practices first hand, and to interact with Dominion Leasing Software staff in both educational and social settings.

The focus of this year’s User Conference was 'gaining momentum' by utilizing the system’s functionality to bring added value our clients and their customers. To that end the Dominion Team worked diligently to provide session topics of both educational and informational significance which were of interest to the attendees. In addition, attendees were offered the opportunity to preview the new LeaseComplete Version 5.

“We were excited to have the opportunity to preview LeaseComplete Version 5 for our customers,” said Clinton Dunlow, President of Dominion Leasing Software. “We have invested over 3 years in the design and development of this ground-up rewrite of the very successful LeaseComplete system, utilizing the very latest in Microsoft technology to bring to our customers many additional features and an impressive new user experience. The excitement the preview generated and feedback we received reinforced our direction. The fact that many of our customers volunteered to participate in the System BETA testing will play a pivotal role in its long-term success.”

About Dominion Leasing Software
Dominion Leasing Software is a leading provider of Web-enabled software and services to the equipment finance and retail leasing industries. LeaseComplete, its flagship lease accounting and asset management system is widely recognized as a premier custom solution for both equipment and vehicle lease portfolios. Dominion's software and services are used by a diverse group of clients including banks, credit unions, trucking companies, automobile dealerships, and independent lessors. For more information on Dominion Leasing Software, please visit www.dominionls.com.

#### Press Release #############################

Gary DiLillo, President 216-658-5618 or gary@avptc.com Comprehensive personal property tax outsourcing services. Click here to see what our clients say about us.

Madison, Wisconsin-- Adopt-a-Dog

Woody - 4047027
Labrador Retriever
Male
Altered
78 lbs
Light brown-orange

"My name is Woody. I am a 9 year old, Lab. I am a sweet older man. I know many tricks but you can teach old dogs new tricks. I need to go to a home with no other dogs. I'm an oldie but a goodie. Come on in and meet me today?

http://www.giveshelter.org/component/animaldetail/?id=4047027

Dane County Humane Society
5132 Voges Road
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 838-0413

Adopt-a-Pet by Leasing Co. State/City
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Adopt_Pet.htm

Adopt a Pet
http://www.adoptapet.com/

Classified ads—Asset Management

Asset Management: Atlanta, GA premier provide accounts receivable management functions from 3rd Party contingency collections to Portfolio Purchasing. Contact George Elliott, National Account Manager. 678-694-9063, www.westassetmanagement.com	Asset Management: Boston, MA Nationwide appraisals, remarketing, audits, inspections and more! Over 15-years industry experience and dedicated to deliver personal, prompt, professional services. Call Chris @ 508-785-1277. Email:chris@dovermanagementgroup.com
Asset Management: Minneapolis, MN NetSentric provides services to leasing companies: Inspection, Appraisals, Auditing, Warehousing, Repossession, Asset Management, Repairs, Remarketing and Field Service for Electronics and Computing Technology. Email: jcahill@netsentricinc.com	Asset Management: Monroe, NC Recover a greater return on your investment.  We specialize in the woodworking, pallet, sawmill and forestry industries.  Carolinamachinerysales.com/ Melinda Meier (704)288-1904 x103
Asset Management: Nationwide BUYER/LENDER BEWARE. Don't sign anything until Collateral Verifications Inc. goes onsite, knocks on the door and gets the facts. http://www.i-collateral.com Email: mark@i-collateral.com	Nationwide Seasoned and fair priced workforce is at your service for all lease collections, repossessions, and asset liquidations, appraisals.  Call Nassau Asset Management 800-462-7728   dcastagna@nasset.com
Asset Management: NorthWest Sequent provides collateral recovery, remarketing, and storage services to lenders with assets located in the greater Pacific Northwest. Professional services at reasonable pricing. Contact rossr@sequentam.com	Asset Management: Orange City, FL We help Lessors Liquidate un-wanted Assets valued at $750,000+. It's an effective method of Liquidating Assets such as Jets, Planes, Helicopters, Freighters, etc. Eric R. Sanders Tel  386-789-9441 www.ValuedAssetSales.com www.The-RandolphCapital.com EQPMNTLEASING@aol.com
Asset Storage/Re-Marketing: Ohio & surrounding states. Providing no cost warehousing, condition reports, digital photos and remarketing of off-lease forklifts & industrial equipment. NAFTA wide dealer network. Email to GCochran@OhioLift.com
Asset Management: South East US- AllState Asset Management Recovery, remarketing, inspections. 25 years experience, dedicated to deliver, prompt, professional services. Call Brian @ 704-671-2376. brian.buchanan@allstateassetmgmt.com	Asset Management: Global Specializing in Semiconductor and Electronic Test Equipment collateral. Lender services include Consignment Sales, Remarketing, Portfolio Purchases, Inspections, De-installation, Repairs and Warehousing. www.testequipmentconnection.com mnovello@testequipmentconnection.com
Bulldog Asset Management provides recovery and remarketing services with a difference. Contingent repos, free storage and industry experts to remarket. Email: jeff@buybulldog.com www.buybulldog.com

How to Post a free "Outsourcing" classified ad:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Outsourcing/Outsourcing-post.htm

--- News Briefs

Tornadoes devastate South, killing at least 291
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/30/us/30storm.html?_r=1&hp

US storms kill five million chickens, damage poultry industry
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/
us_storms_kill_five_million_chickens_W17J5mLfUYUxh1Iqd14yeL

CIT to acquire retail bank deposit business?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/27/markets-credit-idUSN2717764620110427

LA BBB Chief Resigns/criticism earning $400,000+ year
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bbb-20110422,0,1954232.story

Brazil cenbank sees high rates lasting, fears wage heat
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/28/brazil-economy-centralbank-idUSN2821327620110428

United Community's loss widens to $143MM, sheds bad loans
http://www.ajc.com/business/united-communitys-loss-widens-928336.html

Boeing calls Dreamliner schedule intact
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2011/04/28/Boeing-calls-Dreamliner-schedule-intact/UPI-91221304024014/

Casey Abrams Sent Packing on 'American Idol'
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662932/american-idol-recap-elimination-casey-abrams.jhtml

You May Have Missed----

Warnings of doctor shortage go unheeded
http://www.remappingdebate.org/article/warnings-doctor-shortage-go-unheeded-0

Sports Briefs----

Quarterbacks Go Fast in Draft
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/sports/football/29draft.htm

Cowboys select USC OT Tyron Smith with ninth overall pick
http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/04/cowboys-select-usc-ot-tyron-sm.html

Shocker: Niners take Missouri OLB Aldon Smith
http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archives/2011/04/shocker-niners-1.html

Jim Harbaugh on Aldon Smith
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?entry_id=87988

The NFL Draft Thursday Choices with comments from fans
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/live-blog-the-2011-n-f-l-draft/

The Huddle
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/index

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round Two predictions include a tough series for Sharks
http://www.examiner.com/san-jose-sharks-in-san-jose/stanley-cup-playoffs-round-two-predictions-include-a-tough-series-for-sharks

California Nuts Briefs---

Dugard expresses relief that Garridos pleaded guilty
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/04/garridos-to-ple.html

San Jose's Cinco de Mayo parade dies
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_17952871?nclick_check=1

“Gimme that Wine”

Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson head line up for Wine Future 2011 in Hong Kong
http://harpers.co.uk/news/news-headlines/10484-robert-parker-and-jancis-robinson-head-line-up-for-wine-future-2011-in-hong-kong.html

Report: Fine wine sales to grow 11% to 15% in 2011
http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/33210/report-fine-wine-sales-to-grow-11-to-15-in-2011/

Vouvrays with an Element of Surprise--by Eric Asimov
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/dining/reviews/27wine.html?_r=1

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com

http://www.wine-searcher.com/

US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/

Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas/\

Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm

    1749- Benjamin Franklin on the banks of the Shuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA, became the first person to cook by electricity. In a letter dated this day in 1749, he wrote: A turkey is to be killed for our dinner by the electrical shock and roasted by the electrical jack, before a fire kindled by the electrified bottle
    1845-Macon B. Allen becomes the first African-American lawyer admitted to the bar in Massachusetts.
http://www.jtbf.org/inter_fed_jud.htm
    1854- the first college for African-American students was the Ashmun Institute, Chester County ,PA. It was named after Jeshudi Ashmun, the reorganizer of the colony of Liberia. In 1966, the college name was changed to Lincoln University.
http://www.lincoln.edu/
    1873-Eli Hamilton Janney of Alexandria, VA, obtained a patent on an “improvement in car-couplings.” Eventually every railroad coupler with which every railroad car in the United States, Canada, and Mexico was equipment with his invention.'`
http://www.sdrm.org/history/timeline/
    1899--Jazz pianist, composer and bandleader Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington was born in Washington, DC. He made his first professional appearance as a jazz pianist in 1916, and two years later formed his first band. After appearances in Harlem nightclubs, Duke Ellington's orchestra became one of the most famous jazz bands, and remained so for more than 50 years. Some of Ellington's best-known songs include "Take the A Train," "Mood Indigo," "Solitude" and "Sophisticated Lady." He also wrote a number of concert works including "Creole Rhapsody" and "Black, Brown and Beige." Ellington made hundreds of recordings before his death in 1974.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/apr29.html
http://www.dukeellington.com/
    1901-for the first and only time, the Kentucky Derby was run in April instead of May. The winning cold was “His Eminence,” ridden by Jimmy Winkfeld. Sannazarro finished second, a length-and-a-half back.
    1908-April 29 Pierre L'Enfant
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/l-enfant.htm 
http://www.ugrad.cs.jhu.edu/~pedxing/revwar.html 
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_informati
on/pierre_charles_lenfant.html 
http://www.cnn.com/2000/STYLE/design/05/22/major.lenfant.ap/ 
    1910 - The temperature at Kansas City, MO, soared to 95 degrees to establish a record for the month of April. Four days earlier the afternoon high in Kansas City was 44 degrees, following a record cold morning low of 34 degrees.
    1913-the zipper was invented about 1906 by Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, NJ, an inventor of Swedish ancestry, who obtained a patent on this day for his “separable fasteners.” His design consisted of two flexible tapes, each of which carried a row of metal teeth with tiny hooks, and a slider that locked the two rows of hooks together. This fastener was improved upon by later patents on March 20 and October 16, 1917, which were assigned to the Hookless Fastener Company of Meadville, PA, under the name “Talon.” The first manufactured garments to incorporate zippers were rubber boots made by the B.F. Goodrich Company in 1923. Prior to this all clothes used buttons exclusively. The term “zipper” was coined by the English novelist Gilbert Frankau, who saw the device at a promotional luncheon and explained “Zip! It's Open! Zip! It's closed!” The first fashion designer to use zippers was Elsa Schiaparelli, who added them to garments in her 1930 collection.
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa082497.htm
    1918-Ace of Aces Captain Edward Vernon Rickenbacker of Columbus, OH first victory took place in the Baussant region, in the Toul sector, France. He was credited with 26 victories, including 22 airplanes and four balloons.
http://www.lib.auburn.edu/archive/flyhy/101/eddie.htm
    1927-birthday of tenor saxophone Big Jay McNeely, Watts Ca
http://www.electricearl.com/dws/bigjay.html
http://www.soul-patrol.com/randbfoundation/jay.htm
http://www.123posters.com/bigjay.htm
http://www.greenmanreview.com/rawblues.html
    1931- British skiffle musician Lonnie Donegan birthday. His biggest North American hit was 1961's "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (On the Bedpost Over Night)." Died November 3,2002.
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/donegan_lonnie/bio.jhtml
    1933-birthday of guitarist Willie Nelson, Abbott, TX.
http://www.willienelson.com/
    1934-guitarist Otis Rush birthday, born Neshoba, MS
http://www.blueflamecafe.com/index.html
http://www.concertedefforts.com/Otis%20Rush.htm
    1941 - The Boston Bees agreed to rename the National League team the Braves, the name they used prior to 1935.
    1945 - The 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, part of the most decorated regiment in the history of the U.S. military (the 442nd regimental combat team), added another first to the history books. They liberated the remaining prisoners of the infamous Nazi death camp, Dachau. The 522nd was made up entirely of second generation Japanese-Americans (Nisei).
    1951-Marguerite Higgins won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting. journalism. Her book, “War in Korea,” became a best-seller Among the many the many newspaper articles she wrote were the first report of the German death camps at the end of World War II, won the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1951. She was the first American to enter the Dachau death camp on 04-29-1945, in advance of military troops. From her dispatch filed that day: "Tattered, emaciated men, weeping, yelling and shouting `Long Live America' (in about 16 languages) swept toward the gate in a mob. Those who could not walk limped or crawled... at least a thousand prisoners were killed the night before... the barracks like those at Buchenwald (which she had also entered early) had the stench of death and sickness... the starving and dying lay virtually on top of each other in quarters where 1,200 men occupied a space intended for 200...in the crematorium itself were hooks on which the S.S. men hung their victims when they wished to flog them or to use any of the other torture instruments... Many of the living were so frail it seemed impossible they could still be holding on to life." More women were killed by the Germans in the concentration camps than men - and women were subjected to rape and other sexual tortures as well. So many of the Nazi doctors seemed fascinated by women's reproductive abilities and performed unspeakable horrors on pregnant women. She died in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 1966 of a disease which she apparently contracted while in Vietnam. September 14,2002 a stamp was issued to commemorate her life.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/mhiggins.htm 
http://www.unicover.com/EA1CCJH8.HTM 
    1951--Top Hits
If - Perry Como
Mockingbird Hill -Patti Page
Would I Love You - Patti Page
The Rhumba Boogie - Hank Snow
    1952-birthday of Dale Earnhardt, stock car racer, born Kannapolis, NC, Apr 29, 1952. He was one of NASCAR's most popular personalities, winning the Winston Cup seven times. He was killed while driving in the Daytona 500 at Daytona Beach, FL, Feb 18, 2001
http://www.daleearnhardt.net/ 
    1953 - "Coke Time with Eddie Fisher" began its TV and radio run on NBC-TV and Mutual radio. Fisher, a popular performer, was seen and heard on more TV and radio stations in 1954 than any other entertainer. Oh, my! (Papa)
    1954 - Ernest Borgnine made his network television debut in "Night Visitor" on "Ford Theatre" on NBC-TV. The versatile film ("Marty") star would later become a sitcom sensation in "McHale's Navy" with comedian Tim Conway on CBS and, later, as a helicopter owner in "Airwolf".
http://us.imdb.com/Name?Borgnine,+Ernest
    1954-Miles Davis Sextet records “Walkin'” (Prestige)
http://www.milesdavis.com/ 
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/2822/miles_davis.htmlhttp://www.wam.umd.edu/~losinp/music/miles_ahead.htm
http://www.jan-lohmann.com/
http://home.snafu.de/miles/music/missing.htm
    1958 -Ted Williams becomes the tenth major league player to get 1,000 extra-base hits.
    1958-"The Witch Doctor" goes to No.1 on Billboard's pop charts. The singer's voice was recorded at various speeds, mainly very Fast. Songwriter and singer Ross Bagdasarian (who recorded under the name David Seville) topped the charts again at the end of the year with "The Chipmunk Song," sung by his dubbed voice at very fast speed, and this time the singers were: the Chipmunks.
    1959--Top Hits
Come Softly to Me - The Fleetwoods
(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I - Elvis Presley
Guitar Boogie Shuffle - The Virtues
White Lightning - George Jones
    1959 - UNIVAC, the electronic computer that was the size of a house, actually picked four out of six winners at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. The electronic brain set a record for right choices in horse races. Of course, the winners all paid 2-1 or even odds, so it didn't win much. But, most of us don't...
    1960 - Dick Clark told a House of Representatives investigating committee looking into the payola scandal that he, the host of "American Bandstand", never took payola for records featured on his daily TV show. Clark would, however, relinquish rights to music publishing that he owned. The value of those rights, Clark indicated 30 years later, amounted to about $80 million.
http://www.history-of-rock.com/clark.htm
http://www.dickclarkproductions.com/
    1961 - “Spanning the globe ... to bring you the constant variety of sport, the constant variety of human competition, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. This is ABC's Wide World of Sports.” A Saturday afternoon sports program began its long run on ABC-TV. The show, featuring Jim McKay as host, along with Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, Jack Whitaker, Heywood Hale Brun and others, was not an immediate hit. Although Roone Arledge's vision of a worldwide window on televised sports got off to a slow start, "ABC's Wide World of Sports" became one of TV's most popular and enduring programs.
    1963-Andrew Loog Oldham signed the Rolling Stones to a management contract. He had seen them peform the previous night at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, England.
    1967--Top Hits
Somethin' Stupid - Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You - The Monkees
Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley
Need You - Sonny James
    1967- Aretha Franklin's "Respect" is released.
    1967-Cindy Birdsong makes her stage debut with The Supremes at The Hollywood Bowl, replacing the increasingly unreliable Florence Ballard.
    1967-Muhammad Ai was stripped of his world heavyweight boxing championship when he refused to be inducted into military service. Said Au, “I have searched my conscience, and I find I cannot be true to my belief in my religion by accepting such a call.” He had claimed exemption as a minister of the Black Muslim religion. Convicted of violating the Selective Service Act but the Supreme Court reversed this decision in 1971
http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/10/25/specials/ali.html
    1968 - "Hair" made its way from Greenwich Village to Broadway. The show certainly opened eyes. It was the first time that actors appeared nude in a Broadway musical. "Hair" ran for 1,844 shows on and off Broadway. It was even more successful in its London run later. Big songs from the show: "Hair" (The Cowsills) and "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (The 5th Dimension).
http://www.cowsill.com/cowsills/discography/music-hair.html
http://www.orlok.com/hairpages/hairfaq.html
    1969 - Sir Duke, Duke Ellington, celebrated his 70th birthday. He was honored with the presentation of the Medal of Freedom, the U.S. government's highest civilian honor.
    1972--A Detroit, Michigan band called Gallery enters the Billboard Hot 100 with "Nice To Be With You", which will rise to #4 during its 13 week run. They will follow with two more Top 20 hits, "I Believe In Music" (#22) and "Big City Miss Ruth Ann" (#23) over the next eight months.
    1973-More than 15,000 people attending a Rock concert by Elvin Bishop, Canned Heat, Buddy Miles and Fleetwood Mac are routed from a baseball stadium in Stockton, California, by police firing tear-gas canisters. More than 80 people, including 28 police officers, are hurt and fifty arrests are made.
    1973 - The Mississippi River reached a crest of 43.4 feet, breaking the previous record of 42 feet established in 1785.
    1974 - Phil Donahue's TV show was on the move. "Donahue" was moving to Chicago, IL, where it would remain until 1985. The show was originally based in Dayton, OH. Following more than a decade in the Windy City, the show again moved, this time to New York City. During its stay in Chicago, "Donahue" earned nine Emmy Awards.
    1975 - Operation Frequent Wind, the largest helicopter evacuation on record, begins removing the last Americans from Saigon.
    1975--Top Hits
(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B.J. Thomas
He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) - Tony Orlando & Dawn
Supernatural Thing - Ben E. King
Blanket on the Ground - Billie Jo Spears
    1979- Van Halen's "Dance The Night Away" single is released
    1980-Black Sabbath began their first tour with vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who had replaced Ozzy Osbourne.
    1981 - Steve Carlton, the Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, became the first left hander in the major leagues to get 3,000 career strikeouts. He fanned Montreal Expos's Tim Wallach in the first inning of a game that saw the Phillies beat the Expos 6-2. Carlton was only the sixth major leaguer to strikeout 3,000 batters. He finished with 4,136.
    1983--Top Hits
Come on Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
Beat It - Michael Jackson
Der Kommissar - After the Fire
American Made - The Oak Ridge Boys
    1985-“Challenger” was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, piloted by the first African-American to enter outer space, Col. Frederick Gregory, who became a veteran of three space missions, logging in 455 hours. This flight had a crew of seven and a full animal menagerie of monkeys and other animals to learn about the effects of space. After 111 orbits of Earth, Challenger landed on May 6, 1985, at Edwards Air Force Base, Ca.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/gregory-fd.html
    1985 - George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, fired manager Yogi Berra. Berra was canned after only 16 games into the young baseball season. In his place, Steinbrenner brought Billy Martin back ... for the fourth time.
    1986 - Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox set a major-league baseball record by striking out 20 Seattle Mariner batters on the way to a 3-1 win. This record for the Red Sox hurler surpassed the 19 strikeouts for a nine-inning game held by Nolan Ryan when he pitched for the California Angels. Tom Seaver of the New York Mets and Steve Carlton of the St. Louis Cardinals also held a piece of the previous 19-KO record.
    1987 - A storm off the southeast coast of Massachusetts blanketed southern New England with heavy snow. Totals of three inches at Boston MA, 11 inches at Milton MA, and 17 inches at Worcester MA, were records for so late in the season. Princeton MA was buried under 25 inches of snow.
    1988--Top Hits
Wishing Well- Terence Trent D Arby
Anything For You- Gloria Estefan
Angel- Aerosmith
Where Do Broken Hearts Go- Whitney Houston
Pink Cadillac- Natalie Cole
    1988-the 1988 Baltimore Orioles finally won a game after losing the first 21 games of the season. They beat the Chicago White Sox, 9-0, on a combined four-hitter by pitchers Mark Williamson and Dave Schmidt. The Orioles' streak, lasting from April 4 to 28, set an American League record but fell two losses short of the National League mark.
    1988 -thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds throughout central Texas with baseball size hail reported at Nixon, Texas and wind gusts to 70 mph recorded at Cotulla, Texas. In contrast, a late winter storm dropped up to a foot of snow over northern West Virginia and western Maryland.
    1989-Porter Wagoner joined Dolly Parton on stage for the first time since Parton split with her mentor in 1976. The duet sold out four shows at Parton's Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
    1989- Porter Wagoner joined Dolly Parton on stage for the first time since Parton split with her mentor in 1976. The duet sold out four shows at Parton's Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
http://www.porterwagoner.com/ 
    1990 - A storm system crossing northern New Mexico blanketed parts of the Rocky Mountain Region and the Northern High Plains with heavy snow, and produced blizzard conditions in central Montana. Much of southern Colorado was buried under one to three feet of snow. Pueblo tied an April record with 16.8 inches of snow in 24 hours. Strong canyon winds in New Mexico, enhanced by local showers, gusted to 65 mph at Albuquerque. Afternoon temperatures across the Great Plains Region ranged from the 20s in North Dakota to 107 degrees at Laredo TX
    1990-The TV movie Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys airs on ABC. 
    1991--Top Hits
Baby Baby - Amy Grant
Joyride - Roxette
I Like the Way (The Kissing Game) - Hi-Five
Down Home – Alabama
    1992-a jury in Simi Valley, CA, failed to convict four Los Angeles police officers accused in the videotaped beating of Rodney King, providing the spark that set off rioting, looting and burning at South Central Los Angeles, CA, and other areas across the country. The anger unleashed during and after the violence was attributed to widespread racism, lack of job opportunities and the resulting hopelessness of inner-city poverty.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0429.html#article
    1992- State Farm Insurance was ordered to pay $157 million to hundreds of California women who were not offered or given jobs as State Farm agents because of their sex. It was the largest sex-discrimination settlement in US history to that time. The settlement was shared by more than 814 women. The case that began in June, 1979 when Muriel Kraszewski sued because she was turned down repeatedly for agent jobs at State Farm offices in South California because she was a woman. As a result of the suit, the ratio of women agents with State Farm has increased from less than 1% in 1979 to more than 50% today. Women make up more than 50% of the population.
    1995 -severe thunderstorms moved across Tarrant County in Texas. Hail up to 3.5 inches in diameter did an enormous amount of damage. 100 aircraft were damaged at DFW airport. Damages in the county totaled $220 million. This was the second major hailstorm to hit the area in a month.
    1997- the US House of Representatives voted to bestow Congress's highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal, on Frank Sinatra. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan had presented the singer with the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the US.
    1997-Craig MacIavish, the last player to go without a helmet, retired from the National Hockey League,. The NHL mandated helmets at the start of the 1979-80 season but allowed players then active to refrain by signing a waiver absolving the league of responsibility in case of head injury. MacIavish was the last remaining player of those who signed the waiver. He retired from the St. Louis Blues after a 16-year career during which he scored 213 goals. Despite his personal choice, he admitted, “Certainly, it's very dangerous out there without a helmet.
    1998--Top Hits
Too Close- Next
You re Still The One- Shania Twain
Let s Rid-, Montell Jordan Feat. Master P
All My Life- K-Ci
    2007-Nancy Sinatra made a rare TV appearance in an episode of The Sopranos where she sang "Bossman" to a small gathering of the main characters.