The scant 23 days David Hill lasted as CEO of our beloved National Corvette Museum is sending ripples through our community, and today, CorvSport will break down the rise and fall of this once highly regarded businessman. We do want to emphasize that at this point, the claims against Hill are just allegations, and Hill has yet to release a formal statement. [Author’s Note: This article is FREE and not behind a paywall. Yes, FREE! If/when any pop-ups occur, please click to make them disappear and continue enjoying the article. One may require two steps–first, the arrow on the left, then the x on the top right.]
From 23 years to 23 days. This shakeup comes at a bad time for the NCM, which lost its last CEO, Sharon Brawner, after only 2.5 years on the job. We covered that departure here. After 23 years of service from Wendell Strode, the NCM has now gone through three CEOs since 2019. As I pass from forum to forum and across social media, to say the community is upset with the turmoil would be an understatement. But there is hope, both from within the NCM and from hardcore enthusiasts and members of the NCM.
What’s Inside 23 DAYS
- The Rise & Excitement From The NCM
- The Fall & Stench Of Disappointment
- The Hope & An Encouraging Promotion From Within
1) The Rise & Excitement From The NCM
The official announcement from the NCM was sent in an email blast to its members on March 13th of this year, and you could sense the enthusiasm from the Museum as they hyped their new hire–as they should, especially considering the hunt started in February 2024. Here is the email in its entirety.
National Corvette Museum Names David Hill as CEO
Seasoned Automotive Leader Brings Industry Experience and a Passion for America’s Sports Car to the Museum’s Top Leadership Role
“BOWLING GREEN, KY, March 13, 2025 – The National Corvette Museum is pleased to announce David Hill as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. A lifelong Corvette enthusiast with extensive leadership experience, Hill brings the strategic vision needed to lead the Museum into its next chapter while staying true to its mission of preserving and celebrating the legacy of America’s Sports Car.
‘The Museum’s Board of Directors conducted an in-depth search for a leader who could balance heritage and innovation, ensuring the Museum continues to thrive for future generations of Corvette and Corvette enthusiasts,’ explained Kaye Wagner, National Corvette Museum Board Chair. ‘David’s combination of business acumen, deep-rooted passion for the Corvette legacy, and proven leadership experience made him the perfect choice. We are excited to welcome him to the National Corvette Museum and look forward to his leadership in the years ahead.’
Hill previously served in several CEO and leadership roles in education, energy, manufacturing, and technology, including Mar-k, Logic Energy, Petrosmith, and Kimray. Recognized as one of Oklahoma’s ‘Most Admired CEOs’ by The Journal Record, Oklahoma’s leading business publication, he has led modernization efforts, product expansion, and market growth. Most of all, he is passionate about people and culture, two qualities he believes set an organization apart and that align with the Museum’s commitment to innovation and excellence.
A hands-on Corvette owner, Hill has restored multiple classics, including a 1971 Stingray. His personal favorite is the 1967 Corvette, which he calls, ‘A beautiful car in so many ways.’
‘The National Corvette Museum represents the heart and soul of America’s Sports Car, and I am honored to step into this role as CEO,’ remarked Hill. ‘As someone who has cherished Corvettes for decades, I deeply appreciate the history, innovation, and passion that define this iconic brand. I look forward to partnering with the dedicated team at the Museum to build on its incredible legacy, expand its reach, and foster a high-performance culture of service and innovation for our guests, members, donors, and Corvette enthusiasts.’
Beyond his corporate career, Hill is dedicated to nonprofit leadership, co-founding the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon to support the National Memorial and Museum. He and his wife also founded a Classical School and are involved in many other philanthropic efforts.
While no relation to the 2006 Corvette Hall of Fame inductee and retired Corvette Chief Engineer of the same name, Hill brings a strong track record of leadership, strategic vision, and a commitment to excellence. He will assume his role on March 17 and relocate to Bowling Green with his wife of 32 years, Shannon. They have six adult children spread across the country and love spending time with them doing just about anything.
With Hill joining the team, 2025 is set to be an exciting year at the National Corvette Museum. Guests can explore our newest exhibition, Speed Captured: The Photographic Works of Richard Prince, a tribute to one of motorsport’s most legendary photographers. Alongside this special showcase, other exhibitions continue to chronicle Corvette’s rich history and legacy as America’s Sports Car. Beyond the Museum galleries, visitors can shop for exclusive Corvette merchandise at the Museum’s Corvette Store, witness new Corvette deliveries on Corvette Boulevard, enjoy lunch at the Stingray Grill, or take on the track at NCM Motorsports Park for an adrenaline-pumping driving experience.”
2) The Fall & Stench Of Disappointment
On April 2nd, news began breaking that David Hill, the National Corvette Museum CEO who took the helm on March 17, 2025, allegedly started stiffing customers after closing his business. David Hill ran Mar-K, a classic trucks restoration parts business, out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. At the time of publication, its website, Mar-K.com, is down, and its Google Business Profile is missing from searches.
Despite the vaporization of Mar-K, the details of the allegations are being shared by truck enthusiasts on the Facebook page 47.5-55.5 GM Trucks Technical Info And Swap Meet. The public group, which has over 74,000 members, started the discussion that highlighted the mess David Hill has allegedly gotten himself into.
The post that started it all.
The plot thickens.
A sample of the allegations:
There’s talk of a lawsuit and massive debt as well.
Member Jason B. grabbed the Google Business Profile, showing permanently closed.
Roger M. paid them a visit, and the gate was locked.
3) The Hope & An Encouraging Promotion From Within
On Wednesday, April 9th, the email announcement titled “Message to Our Members: Leadership Update at the National Corvette Museum” flooded NCM members’ inboxes. Here is the full announcement.
“Effective immediately, David Hill has submitted his resignation as President and CEO of the National Corvette Museum, which has been accepted by the Board of Directors. We thank him for his time with the organization and wish him well in his future endeavors.
We are proud to share that Bryce Burklow has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. A dedicated 15-year veteran of the Museum, Bryce has served in key leadership roles across Events, Facilities, and most recently as Interim Chief Operating Officer. His deep understanding of our operations and passion for the Corvette community position him to lead the Museum forward with strength and purpose.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition. The high level of interest and engagement from our Members and the Corvette community has been a powerful reminder of how much this institution means to so many.
Thank you for your continued support as we drive into our next chapter.”
Meet Bryce Burklow
Let’s hope Bryce Burklow brings stability to NCM leadership–his resume certainly checks all the boxes, especially that he was promoted from within! Are you CORVETTE OBSESSED like we are? The team of renowned authors and contributors at CorvSport hopes you sense our passion for the iconic Corvette, and our vast database of articles and guides should prove it–5000+ features since Scott Kolecki founded CorvSport over 15 years ago! Join the fastest-growing Corvette community on our Facebook page, with over 171,000 followers (52,000 since January 2023!). Meet other hardcore enthusiasts and say hello. This is Douglas B. signing off–click here if you would like to see more of my features.
Additional Source(s) & Thanks:
- CBlogger
- National Corvette Museum
- Thanks to NCM member Steve T.
