Just a year after Bismarck's Dennis Rohlfs sold Executive Air Taxi Corp. to Brockway, Moran & Partners Inc., the company is returning to local ownership.

Two longtime Executive Air employees and a local businessman have bought the Bismarck Municipal Airport-based company. Executive Air was sold by a retiring Rohlfs as part of T.J. Holding Co. which also included the Med-Trans Corp.

Med-Trans CEO Fred Butrell wished Kelly Cermak, Paul Vetter and John Miller the best of luck in their new venture.

"The company is in great hands with professionals that are extremely knowledgeable and experienced with respect to the general aviation industry," Butrell commented in a press release.

Executive Air was started by Rohlfs in 1973. Cermak was hired in 1984 and Vetter joined the company 18 years ago. Vetter takes over the role as chief operating officer.

The opportunity to purchase Executive Air came along at the beginning of the year, according to Vetter.

"Kelly Cermak, John Miller and I started talking to Brockway Moran & Partners about the opportunity to purchase the company and pursued it," Vetter said. "It's a victory for small business, to bring the subsidiary of a large financial organization to local ownership. It's true economic development. We're keeping Executive Air's revenues here, where they support the community."

Plans are to keep the current services that Executive Air offers and expand upon them, according to Vetter. There will be some facility expansion with a new hangar being added to an existing hangar and the large hangar south of the administration will be moved to the north.

Executive Air owns three planes, leases a fourth and is looking at additional aircraft, Vetter said. The company employs 26 people and Vetter foresees no changes in staffing.

"The most important asset this company has is its dedicated staff. Many have been working here for years and their roles will remain the same," Vetter said.

While the Upper Midwest is Executive Air's primary focus, it does offer charter flights all over the nation. Besides charters, the company offers plane maintenance, flight instruction, rental services and parts sales.

"We are extremely excited about having ownership in Executive Air remain at a local level," Cermak said. "The beauty of the transaction was obtaining the most valuable asset, the retention of the professional and dedicated staff."

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)