Ken Stead most definitely does intend to get KATG to NASDAQ or NYSE, but as you have said, he is not expecting this to be tomorrow. It will take time. He is also intending in the long term to get KATC onto NASDAQ.
Regarding the T/A, my understanding is not that Ken has been in day long meetings with them, but that yesterday they called him and requested a meeting "to get aquainted". I do not think there is any more happening than a brief meeting to explain their services and agree lines of communication etc. That's not to say that this T/A is not a step forwards, I am quite sure it is.