The National Corvette Museum Welcomes Dr. Sean Preston as new President/CEO!
The National Corvette Museum has announced the election of Dr. Sean Preston as its new President and CEO. Preston succeeds outgoing NCM CEO/Executive Director Wendell Strode. Strode announced his retirement in May, 2018 after 23 years of employment with the National Corvette Museum. He will remain with the Museum through January 3rd, 2020 as Dr. Preston assumes full CEO responsibilities there.
Dr. Preston and his family will relocate to southern Kentucky, more than 2,300 miles away from his current home in Portland, Oregon, to assume his new position with the world-renowned museum. While this might seem a daunting undertaking for some, Dr. Preston has a resume that proves he’s no stranger to this type of relocation.
A career educator, Preston graduated with a Bachelors Degree is Social Science Education from the University of Georgia, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Troy University in Alabama and his Doctorate in Education and Non-Profit Leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
During the course of his prestigious career, Dr. Preston previously served as the Founding Foreign Consulting President of the American School of Zhengzhou in Zhengzhou, Henan, China. He was also the Founding President of the John Crosland School in Charlotte, North Carolina as well as the Executive Director of Cypress Heights Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Prior to accepting the role of President and CEO of the National Corvette Museum, Preston has spent the past year serving as the president of a nonprofit independent school in Oregon.
Following Wendell’s announcement that he was retiring in May 2018, the NCM Board of Directors formed a search committee to help find Wendell’s replacement. Board member and committee chair Lon Helton detailed the search process:
“The NCM Search Committee teamed with Chicago-based Kittleman & Associates to conduct a thorough nationwide search to find the best possible candidates – and there were many. Sean possesses the leadership skills, diverse qualities, relationships and unique skill sets necessary to collaborate with NCM Board of Directors to expand the mission and strategic objective of the NCM while being mindful of the unique legacy and spirit of the organization. His skills as an innovative leader are proven and we look forward to the NCM’s next chapter with Sean leading the way for the staff, management, volunteers and members. The icing on the cake: Sean is a car guy with a 1954 Corvette and 1972 Corvette in his collection!”
With Dr. Preston’s background as a career educator, working for the National Corvette Museum brings with it some unique educational opportunities. Says Preston: “I’m excited to look at the Museum and the exhibits from an outsider’s lens and partner with the team to create new and exciting exhibits. I also think it’s important that we focus on the preservation of the collection. We want to expand the membership base, welcome a new generation of Corvette enthusiasts and become one of the most attended and supported car museums in the world.”
“The National Corvette Museum is a one-of-a-kind organization. There are thousands of museums across the globe, but none other dedicated to Corvette,” said Dr. Preston. “I’m head over heels in love with all things car-related, and specifically Corvette. It is an honor to have been named President and CEO.”
Dr. Preston officially assumed his duties at the Museum on July 1, 2019.
