Sharon Brawner is Leaving the National Corvette Museum

By
Keith Cornett
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16
11997

National Corvette Museum's President/CEO Sharon Brawner


On Friday afternoon we learned that the National Corvette Museum’s President and CEO Sharon Brawner will be leaving her position effective immediately. Bryce Burklow will be serving at the interim Chief Operating Officer until the Board of Directors appoints a new President/CEO.

The NCM has put out a statement regarding “An important development within the National Corvette Museum Key Leadership Team”:

It is with bittersweet emotions that I am announcing Sharon Brawner has decided to move on from her role as President and CEO of the National Corvette Museum. We thank Sharon for her many contributions over the past two and half years, which include reimaging our exhibit galleries, growing our collection, and increasing investments in Museum facilities. In the short term, the National Corvette Museum Board will assume the duties of President and CEO during this time of transition, with Bryce Burklow serving as interim Chief Operating Officer.

Thank you for your support of the National Corvette Museum.

This move comes as a surprise to many and without too much speculation, I would bet that Sharon was surprised as well based on some of the feedback we are receiving. Personally, I found her to be engaging and the level of presentation from the Museum has increased substantially under her leadership. However, we did see an increase of departures from longtime employees so perhaps something was amiss behind the scenes. We’ll probably never know for sure.

The National Corvette Museum’s Board of Directors will be starting a new CEO search shortly. After the last two hires which ended in “abrupt departures,” let’s hope for the sake of its members and the Corvette enthusiast community that they get it right.


Source:
National Corvette Museum

Related:
[VIDEO] NCM Debuts New Skywall Video Display for 70th Anniversary Exhibit
[PODCAST] Corvette Museum’s Sharon Brawner is on the Women Shifting Gears Podcast
The National Corvette Museum Names Sharon Brawner as New President and CEO

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16 COMMENTS

  3. Both the NCM and race track have become so greedy. So many cash grabs with no benefit to members. They have lost all of the relationships with the loss of so many long time staff and volunteers.

    It hasn’t been the same since Wendell left. Whoever advocated for him to retire should be run out of town.

  7. Have to say that from the beginning I never felt she was the right fit for the NCM. Just something about her speech delivery, mannerisms, engagement in conversation with her.
    The NCM financially is in the RED, staff turnover, and on a hiring spree that was costly for sure.
    I believe Bryce would make a great President and CEO of the NCM.
    He has been there thru thick and thin, knows everything and everybody, a great manager.
    Anyone who agrees should write to Kaye Wagner, NCM Board Chair.

  8. Agree totally with Mike’s comments. I, too, was uncomfortable with her leading the Museum. She seemed to be, in my sole opinion, a square peg trying to fit into a round hole…and doing a very awkward job of it.

    Maybe this time, the Board will at least listen to the membership and choose a leader who understands the uniqueness of the Museum and the Corvette community. I’ve spoken with past Board members about Museum leadership and some of what they’ve told me is pretty revealing. Now, I admit to not knowing Bryce very well, but at least he has a track record with the Museum and understands the Corvette culture, so my hope would be that he’s the leading candidate at this early stage.

    But…I do miss Wendell!

  9. I’ll agree with the comment that it seems the museum has become greedy. I’m sure they need money to operate but it seems like they are trying to fly too high too fast.
    Many activities have gotten to the point that I’m not really interested. Need to come back to earth and appeal to the general Corvette population.

  10. Agree 100% Bryce should get the Job… he should have gotten it after the Shawn debacle.

    Why doesn’t the membership vote on board members? The last decade has seen agenda based politics and toxicity that has caused unrepairable damage to NCM.

    Is there any more information as to why this happened or why Stephanie isn’t mentioned as the current coo I would have imagined that she would have a role too

  11. @Mike 8TY4SPD & MNL13GS the NCM definitely is not in the red if you look at the financial disclosures. They show a net gain of $7m last year. Guessing this has more to do with culture than finance.

  13. Sad. Like watching a car wreck in slow motion. This coupled with the fact that ‘some’ at NCM don’t know that there are Corvette owners west of the Mississippi has me thinking of submitting in my lifetime membership. The thrill is gone.

  14. C4/C6 FAN, thank you for the correct, sorry folks. I was given the financial info from our Club NCM Ambassador.

  15. Seems to be an issue with museums more or less dedicated to a particular cultural element. I am a railfan and see the same thing with railroad museums. Initially, they cater to railfans and the general public has limited interest. Then, they broaden out the mission statement and start diluting the interest for the railfans. Perhaps it’s just too difficult to be all things to all peoples all the time.

  16. I never felt she had the best interests of the museum or membership at heart. Under Wendell’s leadership, one felt like attending & being a part of the corvette scene now the whole focus is on the newer corvettes and attracting new members. I sure hope they hire a car person that cares about not only the brand but the people who drive it.

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