Airport Authority Elects New Officers, Announces New Commissioner and Board Reappointments

NASHVILLE – The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) today announced the following about its Board of Commissioners:  the appointment of local businessman Andrew W. Byrd, the election of new officers and the reappointment of two Commissioners.

Amanda C. Farnsworth, formerly vice chairman who has served on the board since 2012, was elected as chairman, William Freeman as vice chairman and John Doerge as secretary. Ms. Farnsworth succeeds Aubrey (Trey) B. Harwell III as chairman.

Additionally, Commissioners James W. Granbery and Robert J. Joslin were reappointed.

“The oversight and counsel from the Board of Commissioners is invaluable and key to the success and long-term prosperity of Nashville International Airport® and John C. Tune Airport®,” said Doug Kreulen, MNAA president and CEO. “We welcome Mr. Byrd and look forward to benefiting from his experience and insights. And we are especially appreciative for the continued engagement from all our Commissioners, whose commitment to leadership roles at MNAA have well-served Nashville and the mission of our airports.”

Founder and president of TVV Capital, Mr. Byrd was nominated to the board by Mayor John Cooper and confirmed by the Metropolitan Council. He fills the board seat previously held by Mr. Harwell. Mr. Byrd is a 35-year private equity veteran directly responsible for leading the sourcing, financing, acquiring, operating and exiting of more than 33 successful manufacturing enterprises. Prior to founding TVV Capital, Mr. Byrd served as executive vice president, Gen Cap America, Inc., and as president of General Capital Corporation. He also served as an attorney at Donelson, Stokes & Bartholomew, P.A., in Nashville, practicing in tax, corporate and securities areas.

Mr. Byrd has long been active in the community, including service as Clerk of the Session and Elder at First Presbyterian Church; co-chair, Centennial Park Revitalization Plan; director, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Fine Arts Center; chairman, Monroe Carrell, Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, helping to found the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center; and acted as president of the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Byrd earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees from Vanderbilt University and his LL.M degree (taxation) from Georgetown University.

Amanda C. Farnsworth – Chairman
Amanda Farnsworth was appointed to the board in 2012 by then-Mayor Karl Dean. She previously served as vice chairman of the board and has chaired the Finance Committee and the Audit Committee. Farnsworth is a retired executive with J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, now Baird, Investment firm. Current and past board service includes: Optimum Solutions, Inc., vice chair; Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in Washington, D.C.; Consumers Insurance, chairman; Franklin American Mortgage Company; Precision Energy Solutions; Motorists Insurance Group; and National Safety Alliance. She is a trustee of the Ensworth School and past chair of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. Farnsworth is an instrument and commercial rated pilot. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a master’s degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

William (Bill) Freeman – Vice Chairman
William (Bill) Freeman was appointed to the board in 2016 by then-Mayor Megan Barry. He previously served as secretary and has chaired the board’s General Aviation/Operations/Planning/Engineering Committee. Mr. Freeman is chairman of Freeman Webb, Inc., a real estate investment, management and brokerage company and previously was director of Downtown Urban Development for the Metropolitan Nashville Development and Housing Agency (MDHA). Board service includes the University of Tennessee Alumni Board of Directors; the AOPA Presidents Council; and trustee on the Tennessee State University Board of Trustees. He has served as co-chair of the National Advisory Board of Organizing Action and as a commissioner of the Nashville Convention Center. He attended the University of Tennessee.

John Doerge – Secretary
John Doerge was nominated to the Board in 2016 by then-Mayor Megan Barry. Mr. Doerge has been a Community Relations Leader at Deloitte for the past 17 years. He has long been active in the community, serving on several boards including: PENCIL Foundation Board (Chair), United Way Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Middle Tennessee Junior Achievement Board, Middle Tennessee March of Dimes Board, Donelson Hermitage Chamber of Commerce Board, Leadership Donelson Hermitage Board, and is a member of the McGavock Cluster Coalition.

Mr. Doerge has served on the MNAA Audit and Compliance Committee, the Management Committee, Finance/Administration/Properties Committee and the Diversity and Workforce Development Committee. Mr. Doerge earned a B.S. in radio and television and an M.S. in organizational communications from Murray State University.

Robert (Bobby) J. Joslin
Robert (Bobby) Joslin was appointed to the board in 2009 and has served as board chairman and as a member of all board committees. He is the owner and founder of Joslin and Son Signs. Mr. Joslin has served on the State Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Business and Nashville State Technical Community College Business Management Committee. He is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Donelson-Hermitage Chamber of Commerce and Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. He also co-chaired the March of Dimes Walk for Babies this past year. Mr. Joslin attended Middle Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University’s George Peabody College.

James (Jimmy) W. Granbery
James (Jimmy) Granbery was appointed to the board in 2018. He is chair of H.G. Hill Company and chair/CEO of H.G. Hill Realty Company, LLC. He has served on the General Aviation/Operations/Planning/Engineering Committee, Audit & Compliance Committee and BNA Vision Committee. Mr. Granbery has long been active in civic and community roles, including as a member of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission, Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency board, chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Nashville District, among other real estate positions. Current and past community involvement includes the Nashville Zoo Board, Martin Methodist College Board and board chair of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. He earned a BBA from the University of Mississippi.

MNAA Board of Commissioners
A 10-member Board of Commissioners, appointed by the mayor of Nashville/Davidson County and confirmed by the Metropolitan Council, governs the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. By statute, the Board is composed of three business and finance representatives, two pilot representatives, two neighborhood representatives, one engineering representative, one legal representative and the mayor.

About Nashville International Airport
As infrastructure critical to the region’s growth and prosperity, BNA® is a vital asset for Middle Tennessee and serves as a gateway to Music City and beyond. According to a recent study, in 2019 alone, BNA generated more than $8.1 billion in total economic impact, supported more than 76,000 jobs in the region and produced more than $443 million in state, local and federal taxes. BNA receives no local tax dollars. For more information, visit flynashville.com. Follow us on Facebook: @NashvilleInternationalAirport, Twitter: @Fly_Nashville and Instagram: @FlyNashville. Learn more about BNA® Vision, our expansion and renovation plan for the airport, at BNAVision.com.

NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT®,  ®, COMMANDER BERRY FIELD®, JOHN C. TUNE AIRPORT®, and JWN®, among others, are the registered trademarks and trademarks of The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (“MNAA”). Use of these trademarks without permission from MNAA is strictly prohibited.

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