Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Adds Top Lawyer, Elevates Key Executive Staff

As passenger traffic increases and airport operations expand, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) announces its newest executive team member and additional leadership promotions.

Neale R. Bedrock: executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer

Neale R. Bedrock has joined the MNAA leadership team as its new executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer.

Bedrock brings extensive experience delivering legal, compliance and business solutions on both domestic and international matters — most recently at The Hertz Corporation, where his duties included negotiating agreements with many of the top 100 airports in North America over the past 15 years.

"Hundreds of outstanding attorneys from around the country vied for this position and the opportunity to be a part of Nashville International Airport’s historic growth," said Candice Reed, executive vice president and partner of Latitude Tennessee, which led the nationwide search to fill the position. “Doug Kreulen [MNAA’s president and CEO] had a clear vision of the skills, judgment and in-house counsel experience needed for this role, and Neale Bedrock stood out among a highly impressive and diverse field of candidates.”

In addition to his work at The Hertz Corporation, Bedrock has also served as a Municipal Court Judge in the Borough of Waldwick, New Jersey. Previously, he was an attorney at Lowenstein Sandler in New Jersey and served as counsel to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

“Both the Board of Commissioners and I were impressed by Neale’s broad range of legal and regulatory experience. His talents will enhance the Airport Authority’s performance while also ensuring our compliance with local, state and federal requirements” said Doug Kreulen, MNAA president and CEO.

Bedrock has long been active in the communities in which he worked. He served nine years as a trustee on the Waldwick Board of Education, including two years as president. He served 10 years on the board of the Northern Counties Soccer Association, including two years as president, and four years as chairman of the Waldwick Zoning Board and seven years as board attorney.

Bedrock has a juris doctor degree from Pace University School of Law, New York, and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Jersey.

Marge Basrai: executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO)

Marge Basrai was promoted to executive vice president for her superior performance as the CFO and for her willingness to take on the additional responsibility of overseeing the commercial development department at MNAA.

“Marge Basrai has demonstrated extraordinary competence and dexterity in managing the often-complex finances at BNA,” said Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of MNAA. “Taking on this expanded portfolio will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our executive management team.”

Basrai joined MNAA’s executive team in 2018 as vice president and CFO. As CFO she is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the multi-faceted financial and fiscal management functions of Nashville International and John C. Tune airports, including financial planning and analysis, budgeting and accounting, financial investment, debt management, grant financial administration, insurance and risk management and oversight of rates and charges. In her new role as executive vice president, she will also oversee commercial development for MNAA, which includes land development, properties management, airline affairs, air service development, concessions, parking, ground transportation and brand experience.

Basrai has 20 years of accounting and financial management experience in the aviation industry and previously served as vice president and controller for the Wayne County Airport Authority, which operates Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Willow Run Airport and its airport hotel.

She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a Certified Member (C.M.) of the American Association of Airport Executives. Basrai earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting and an MBA from Michigan State University.

Davita Taylor: vice president of procurement and business diversity

Ms. Davita Taylor was promoted to vice president of procurement and business diversity for MNAA. In this position, she is a member of the executive leadership team charged with overseeing the procurement of all goods and services for the Nashville International Airport, the John C. Tune Airport and the MNAA Properties Corporation, as well as leading the Authority’s Office of Business Diversity Development. Under her guidance and leadership, the airport’s expansion and renovation program, known as “BNA Vision,” is expected to contract for more than $300 million in goods and services with small, minority and woman-owned business enterprises (SMWBEs) by the end of 2023.

“Davita Taylor is an exceptional leader with a great variety of real-world experience, extensive business relationships, and a trusted advisor,” said Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of MNAA. “She has always been a leader at the airport, and we will rely on her even more now to guide our procurement process and outreach efforts into all parts of the community.”

Taylor joined MNAA in 2008 and has spent most of her professional career in public administration, contracting and the development of the small, minority and woman-owned business community. At the airport, her roles over time have spanned the likes of special assistant, finance officer, manager, director, chief of staff and chief procurement officer.

A Tennessee native and graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University, Taylor’s influence extends far beyond the airport terminal. She is a Certified Member of American Association of Airport Executives, a certified Master Compliance Administrator, Certified Public Procurement Officer and a member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and past president of the Middle Tennessee Public Purchasing Association. Taylor is also involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford County, Nashville Minority Business Center, Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army (Women’s Auxiliary) and CABLE, among others.

MNAA was established in 1970 and owns and operates Nashville International Airport and John C. Tune Airport.