TORRANCE, Calif. — Steve Hirano, former editor and associate publisher of SCHOOL BUS FLEET, has resigned his position to start up his own company, an online employment board for the transit industry. His last day was Sept. 28.

Hirano had been with Bobit Business Media, SBF’s parent company, for more than 13 years. He started as a senior editor for SBF and eventually was promoted to editor and associate publisher. In 2001, he also took on the duties of editor and associate publisher for METRO Magazine, which covers the transit and motorcoach industries.

“It’s with a mixture of sadness and excitement that I leave such great magazines,” Hirano said. “The past 13 years have been among the most satisfying of my professional life. More than anything, I’ll miss my connection with the readers, who made all of my efforts worthwhile.”

During his tenure, Hirano introduced the “Great Fleets Across America” feature that now appears in the January issue. It debuted in the October 1999 issue and profiled exemplary school bus operations in all 50 states. Hirano also helped to develop SBF’s popular Website (www.schoolbusfleet.com), which logs more than 300,000 visits per month, and its e-mail newsletter, SBF eWeekly.

“Steve was a tremendous asset to SBF and METRO and will be missed,” said Publisher Frank Di Giacomo. “However, he has agreed to continue to contribute to both magazines, as a freelance writer and as a member of our editorial advisory boards.”

Hirano is replaced by Tom McMahon, who was recently promoted to executive editor. “Tom will do a great job as my replacement,” Hirano said. “I feel very comfortable leaving the magazine in his hands and look forward to seeing his talents more fully displayed in the magazine.”

Hirano’s new business is called TransitTalent.com. The site is a Web-based career center for the public transportation industry and will be located at www.TransitTalent.com. If the venture goes well, he said, he might create a similar job board for the school transportation industry.