NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 10, 2023) – The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum has promoted senior vice presidents Nina Burghard and Lisa Purcell to executive vice president roles. Burghard will serve as executive vice president of finances and operations, and Purcell will serve as executive vice president of external affairs.

The promotions are a recognition of their expanded divisional responsibilities and diverse contributions to the institution. The newly created executive vice president positions continue as direct reports to museum CEO Kyle Young, providing key strategic counsel.

“Both Lisa and Nina have moved into expanded roles, taking on the supervision of additional departments and scopes of work, helping to strengthen the institution,” said Young. “Their talents and leadership have been essential to the success of the museum and its growth over the past decade.”

Nina Burghard
While previously serving as senior vice president of financial services and operations, Burghard added the museum’s information and technology department to her responsibilities, as well as the management of the museum’s COVID-19 safety processes during the pandemic. She oversees the museum’s financial operations, including financial statement analysis; company-wide and departmental budget and cash flow preparation and analysis; accounting; and forecasting. Her information and technology oversight includes infrastructure, internal communications, networking and data storage, applications, reporting and data analysis. Additionally, she is responsible for the organization’s human resources, which involve recruiting, training, employee relations and employee engagement, as well as the museum’s maintenance and operations departments — including event setups, housekeeping, security and sustainability efforts — to ensure a safe, clean, eco-friendly and accessible environment for museum visitors and staff.

Prior to joining the museum in 1998, Burghard spent a decade with Arthur Anderson LLP, where she managed a number of clients with varying businesses, including healthcare, insurance, benefit plans, not-for-profit organizations and more. Burghard holds a bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Tennessee and is a certified public accountant. She is a member of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, where she serves as a past president of the Tennessee Chapter and past chair of the Industry Committee.

Lisa Purcell
While previously serving as senior vice president of external affairs, Purcell added supervision of the marketing and public relations departments to her scope of work, which supports the museum’s development, education and community engagement efforts. Her leadership areas encompass contributed income, including individual giving, planned giving, membership and corporate partnerships; educational programming, including programs for school, family, public and volunteer audiences; public relations; public affairs; and marketing. In 2022, the integrated external affairs team provided programming and instruction for more than 130,000 individuals in nearly 1,600 in-person and virtual education programs; facilitated a record number of news stories featuring the museum and its initiatives; engaged nearly 150 volunteers; coordinated two Medallion Ceremonies, which induct new Hall of Fame members; facilitated major exhibit and programmatic partnerships; collaborated with digital service providers; and more.    

Prior to joining the museum in 2014, Purcell served as vice president of external affairs for Hands On Nashville and worked in the program and administrative departments of diverse nonprofit organizations, ranging from the Frist Art Museum to the music business charity T.J. Martell Foundation. She holds both undergraduate and master’s degrees in art history from West Virginia University and has completed certificate programs in leadership at Belmont and Harvard universities. Purcell serves on the Leadership Music Board of Directors and the Education Board Committee of the Nashville Symphony.