As the National Corvette Museum advances its mission to educate worldwide audiences on the evolution of the Corvette—America’s Sports Car—through collection, preservation, and celebration of its legacy, it is excited to welcome Robert Maxhimer as Director of Collections and Exhibitions. Building on the momentum from the past three years, which includes more than $3M in Museum enhancements in Exhibit galleries alone, Maxhimer will oversee the Museum’s collection of historically significant Corvettes and more than 50,000 Corvette artifacts, as well as managing a team of archivists, vehicle maintenance specialists, creators, and exhibit managers to lead the vision and development of Museum exhibits. Maxhimer will serve as a member of the Museum’s leadership team, reporting directly to President and CEO Sharon Brawner.
“After meeting Robert, it was abundantly clear that we held a shared vision for innovative storytelling that not only resonates with our members and fans, but also crafting exhibits and content that reaches audiences no matter their automotive passion,” remarked Sharon Brawner, National Corvette Museum President, and CEO. “Our Collection is the heartbeat of the National Corvette Museum, and with the addition of Robert as our Director of Collections and Exhibitions, we have the leadership and the team in place to exceed the expectations of every member, guest, and museum stakeholder.”
Maxhimer joins the National Corvette Museum from the San Diego History Center, where he served as Manager of Exhibitions and Facilities, overseeing all exhibits and operations for the prestigious Southern California cultural organization. Previously, Maxhimer spent nearly a decade with the Walt Disney Company, where he worked with internal business partners and stakeholders to develop creative content for exhibitions worldwide, including Disney’s consumer products, Walt Disney Studios, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Maxhimer’s responsibilities with the Walt Disney Company included managing publicity for multiple international exhibitions and serving as a spokesperson for the Walt Disney Archives. Through this work, he developed a deep understanding of museum and exhibit best practices, brand management, and the ability to support these growth strategies through exhibitions and media relations.
“I am thrilled to join the incredible National Corvette Museum team and continue building out a collection of Corvettes and preserving Corvette history for generations to come,” commented Maxhimer. “The impact the Museum can have within the Corvette and car community is immense, and I’m energized by the opportunity to implement the art and science representative of a world-class Museum, including breakthrough exhibits and storytelling, content, programming, and museum best practices.”
Before the Walt Disney Company, Robert held various roles in the creative arts sector, where his experience managing, crafting, and developing exhibits will be fully realized in his new role. Maxhimer and his family will relocate to Bowling Green, KY, from San Diego, following nearly a dozen staff members added in the past two years joining from all points across the country. Under the leadership of Brawner, the magnetic draw of opportunity and purposeful storytelling around the concept of “Adrenaline Meets Tradition” combined with the appeal of Bowling Green’s small-town charm has attracted a broad roster of talent. To discover how you could play a role in sharing the history of America’s Sports Car, explore our career openings here.
