Nevada Transportation Authority chief to resign, take post in private sector

Andrew MacKay, a member of the Nevada Transportation Authority for 10 years and the board's chairman for eight of them, is resigning to take a position in the private sector.

MacKay, 39, is expected to depart within three weeks to take over as executive director of the Sparks-based Nevada Franchised Auto Dealers Association. MacKay will succeed Wayne Frediani, who is retiring from the association, which works on behalf of the interests of car dealerships statewide.

"It's the perfect time for me to leave," MacKay said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "Our budget is pretty close to being wrapped up and we're putting the finishing touches on adding staff."

The authority is set to expand after it took on the responsibility of regulating transportation network companies, ride-hailing services that began operating in Nevada last week.

MacKay said the board's effort to draft transportation network company regulations on a short timeline based on legislation adopted in May was his most fulfilling work with the three-member board that oversees buses, limousines, moving companies and tow trucks as well as taxis operating outside Clark County.

Gov. Brian Sandoval will be responsible for filling the vacancy and requirements in the appointment process assures that the new member would be from Northern Nevada. Current commissioners Keith Sakelhide and George Assad are from Clark County.

MacKay was appointed to the board by former Gov. Kenny Guinn in 2005 to complete a term that opened when Bruce Breslow left the board. Breslow currently is director of the state's Department of Business and Industry.

MacKay was appointed chairman in 2007 by former Gov. Jim Gibbons and reappointed by Gov. Brian Sandoval.

The Transportation Authority chairman is paid $115,391 a year.

Contact reporter Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Find @RickVelotta on Twitter.