Stacey Batch
Stacey Batch, one of this year’s Airport Professional of the Year, is a standout leader in airport operations and project management. With more than a decade of experience, Stacey has driven critical initiatives that have fueled Taylor Municipal Airport’s growth and strengthened its financial foundation. Her leadership was instrumental in bringing a new flight school to the airport, boosting annual operations by 20,000 and cementing its position as a key regional aviation hub.
Recognizing the need for more accurate data, Stacey replaced an outdated manual logging system with a modern airport operations tracking system. This upgrade dramatically increased recorded annual operations from 10,000–15,000 to more than 50,000, providing essential insights for long-term planning. She also took important steps to improve financial stability by implementing routine hangar inspections and adjusting lease rates to align with fair market value, ensuring sustainable revenue growth.
Beyond operational improvements, Stacey launched the airport’s first e-newsletter, improving communication and keeping tenants, city officials and pilots informed about ongoing projects, safety updates and operational changes. She led significant infrastructure projects, including the replacement and relocation of the airport’s fuel farm. When the fueling system went offline, Stacey secured approval to lease a fuel truck, maintaining uninterrupted access to fuel. Under her direction, the airport also completed terminal apron reconstruction and secured city approval for a new corporate hangar, expanding its capacity to support more based aircraft.
Known for her hands-on approach, Stacey worked closely with engineers, contractors and city officials to oversee construction projects on site, ensuring they met safety standards and aviation regulations.
As Brian LaBorde, city manager of Taylor, Texas, remarked, “Stacey has been an instrumental member of our team. Her leadership is the reason our airport boasts more than $8 million in estimated economic impact to the community.”