NATA Promotes Eisenstein and Legere and Welcomes Huggard and Poppy to the Team

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is pleased to announce several staff changes as the Association positions itself for continued success in its next decade of service. Recently, Megan Eisenstein was promoted to Managing Director, Industry and Regulatory Affairs and Jake Legere was named Director of Marketing and Communications. Joining the NATA team are Karen Huggard as its Managing Director of Industry Relations and Christy Poppy as Director of Events.

Megan Eisenstein has spent the last six years with NATA serving first as its Senior Manager of Regulatory Affairs before her last promotion to Director of Regulatory Affairs. In her new role as Managing Director, Industry and Regulatory Affairs, Eisenstein monitors Executive branch agency activities as they relate to the aviation industry, and acts as the staff liaison to the association’s Airport Business Committee, Environment Committee, and General Aviation Airports Committee. She also participates in numerous Aviation Rulemaking Committees (ARCs), and represents the association at industry and government meetings, hearings, and events including the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Technical Committee on Airport Facilities. Eisenstein received a B.A. from Syracuse University and an MBA in Aviation Management from Dowling College.

Jake Legere joined the NATA staff in 2015 when he was hired as the Manager of Marketing & Member Services and later served as the Director of Member Services. In his new role, Legere will lead NATA’s marketing efforts for member benefits and products & services, as well as manage NATA’s social media channels and member communications. He received his B.S. in Marketing from George Mason University.

“Megan and Jake have contributed greatly to NATA’s success over the past several years, building on their knowledge of the industry and membership to help advance our initiatives and grow the Association’s services and benefit programs,” stated NATA President and CEO Timothy Obitts. “We congratulate them on their achievements and look forward to tapping into their expertise in delivering the most relevant and timely guidance, services, benefits, and advocacy to our members.”

This week, NATA welcomed Karen Huggard as its Managing Director, Industry Relations. In that role, she will drive the Association’s efforts to expand industry outreach, increase membership engagement, and strengthen public relations. After beginning her career in public policy on Capitol Hill, Huggard spent 15 years as a communications and marketing professional in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Virginia. She earned a B.A. in political science from Wheaton College in Illinois.  

Christy Poppy was recently named NATA’s Director of Events and will drive the development and execution of the Association’s event programs from webinars and seminars to board meetings and conferences. She brings more than five years of event planning and direction to NATA, as well as more than fifteen years of overall event industry experience. Poppy received her B.S. in Hospitality and Event Management from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in Social and Policy from Georgetown University.

“We are delighted to welcome Karen and Christy to the NATA team,” added Obitts. “Their experience and skill sets are true assets to the Association as we navigate through today’s realities and into tomorrow’s opportunities. With their direction, we will continue to find new ways to engage our members, build important industry relationships, and empower the industry on many fronts.”

Learn more about NATA’s staff at www.nata.aero/about-nata/staff.