Bob Rasberry, chairman of the board of West Star Aviation, has retired.

Rasberry plans to continue serving on the board as chairman emeritus as well as work as a senior advisor with Norwest Equity Partners, an investment firm and parent company of West Star Aviation.

Jim Rankin serves as chief executive officer of West Star Aviation. Rodger Renaud serves as chief operating officer and president.

“I find much comfort and pride in knowing that I leave West Star in extremely capable hands. Many leadership decisions have been made over the past several years to prepare for this day,” Rasberry said.

Raspberry was among four co-founders who acquired Premier Air Center in Illinois in 2002. They acquired West Star Aviation in Grand Junction in 2005, and the two companies were united under the West Star brand. The company has grown from a staff of 150 to more than 1,400.

West Star Aviation provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services at facilities at the Grand Junction Regional, Aspen-Pitkin County and Centennial airports in Colorado as well as at airports in Arizona, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. The company has been selected for six consecutive years as the top MRO services provider in a survey conducted for the Professional Pilot trade publication. For additional information, visit the website at www.weststaraviation.com.