NASBA Welcomes New Executive Leaders

NASBA is pleased to announce the addition of two accomplished leaders to its executive team: Brant Beard as chief information officer (CIO) and Tyler Nelson as vice president, public relations.

Brant Beard, Chief Information Officer

Beard joins NASBA following a distinguished 21-year career with HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems. During his tenure, he held progressively senior leadership roles, including more than 13 years as an assistant vice president, leading large-scale initiatives in application development, infrastructure, IT governance, vendor management and enterprise transformation.

As CIO, Beard will lead NASBA’s technology strategy, IT governance, cybersecurity, data analytics and technology-enabled services supporting member Boards of Accountancy, CPAs, CPA candidates and other stakeholders. He will also oversee key vendor relationships and ensure our technology investments align with NASBA’s strategic and operational priorities.

A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Beard has also served as an adjunct instructor for Vanderbilt University’s Human Organizational Development (HOD) program and Lipscomb University’s Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics program, reflecting his strong commitment to leadership development and mentorship.

Tyler Nelson, Vice President, Public Relations

With more than a decade of experience in strategic communications, public relations and association leadership, Nelson most recently served as vice president of communications at the Tennessee Bankers Association, where he led statewide communications, media relations, marketing and advocacy messaging, and oversaw major initiatives spanning financial literacy, education, publications, digital strategy and member engagement.

As vice president, public relations, Nelson will lead NASBA’s internal and external communications strategy, foster key media relationships and guide brand storytelling to enhance engagement and visibility that reflects NASBA’s mission.

Nelson holds a journalism degree from the University of Mississippi and is an active leader in the public relations profession. He has served the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Nashville Chapter in numerous leadership roles, most recently as president in 2025.

NASBA President and CEO Daniel Dustin shared, “Brant’s experience in IT governance, cybersecurity and enterprise technology innovation positions him well to lead our IT organization, while Tyler’s public relations expertise will play a key role in advancing our brand identity and communications strategy. I look forward to working with them both as we continue strengthening our technology infrastructure and elevating NASBA’s visibility and voice.”