Ascent Announces Talent Additions and Organizational Changes

TUCSON, Ariz., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascent Aviation Services (ASCENT) today announced its new organization highlighted by two key external hires and realigned director level positions to focus on quality and planning.

Effective immediately, John "Jack" Keating joins ASCENT as the Vice President, Operations and Director of Maintenance. Jack brings substantial MRO experience most recently serving as President at Evergreen Maintenance Center. "Jack's wealth of experience and customer-focused approach will be instrumental as we work toward our goal of building ASCENT into North America's premier narrow body MRO," said Matthew Ray, ASCENT'S CEO.

Also joining ASCENT is Michael Melvin as ASCENT's new Controller. In this role, Michael is responsible for business and financial planning, budgeting, accounting and financial analysis. Michael brings 20 years of financial management and aerospace experience, including key positions with Securaplane Technologies, B/E Aerospace and Evergreen Maintenance Center. "Michael's broad aviation background including his recent MRO experience as the Chief Financial Officer at Evergreen Maintenance Center further enhances ASCENT's institutional knowledge. His deep skill set has had an immediate impact on our best practices analysis and implementation," said Matthew Ray.

Richard "Rick" Dupuy, ASCENT's previous Director of Maintenance, will become the Director of Quality. Rick will be responsible for continued refinement of our quality systems to exceed the stringent requirements of ASCENT's top tier customers. According to Ray, "Our existing systems are certainly adequate to satisfy customer audits. However, we believe that robust quality systems are the foundation for ASCENT becoming North America's premier narrow body MRO, so we are pushing ourselves extremely hard in this area."

Charles Stead, who was previously the Director of Quality and Planning, will now focus entirely on planning as the Director of Planning. "We felt the need to put a singular focus in the planning area so that we consistently resource the organization properly to achieve our aggressive turn times and produce a high quality product," said Ray. Ray continued, "We understand that some MROs have historically run into trouble when they fail to resource the organization with the adequate parts, tools and people. We will strive to avoid those situations to the benefit of our customers through systematic and exhaustive planning before the aircraft is inducted."

About ASCENT:

The ASCENT facilities located at Tucson International Airport consist of a 23-acre concrete ramp area, a 34,000 square foot hangar with paint capability, secure aircraft parking and extensive warehouse space. The FAA and EASA approved repair station specializes in 737 Classic, 737 NG and MD80 aircraft and performs aircraft heavy maintenance, line maintenance, modification services, transition services, aircraft storage, paint, disassembly and consignment parts sales. ASCENT technicians average 21 years of aircraft maintenance experience. Its workforce has completed more than 400 heavy maintenance and modification visits on the 737 and MD-80 fleets since 2002.

ASCENT's objective is to become the premier narrow body MRO in North America by providing indisputable value complemented by the highest quality professional service. ASCENT is owned by Victory Park Capital, a Chicago-based asset management firm with a growing commercial aircraft portfolio.

SOURCE Ascent Aviation Services