The 500 Festival is proud to welcome Dave Neff as our new President and CEO. A lifelong Hoosier with a background in sports business and community leadership, Dave brings both a passion for people and a vision for the future as we head into one of the most historic seasons in Festival history. 

Dave’s career began more than 20 years ago at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, where he discovered the ability of sports to bring people together and celebrate community. Since then, his journey has included co-founding EDGE Mentoring, working with companies like ExactTarget and Salesforce, serving in C-suite roles, and most recently leading Purdue’s NIL collective, Boilermaker Alliance. Across every chapter, one theme has remained constant: relationships matter. 

“I’m a very relationally-oriented leader. Relationships move at the speed of trust. You must establish trust in order to make big things happen, especially in roles that are more about influence than authority.” 

For Dave, stepping into this role felt both natural and meaningful. The Indianapolis 500 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he says, are our state’s crown jewels and a defining part of Indiana’s identity. To lead an organization with a 70-year legacy is an incredible honor and a responsibility he approaches with humility. 

Dave describes the 500 Festival as “the connective tissue surrounding IMS,” with a mission centered on inclusion and community impact. From the Mini-Marathon and Parade to Kids’ Day, education programs, volunteering, and corporate membership, he sees the Festival as something that truly belongs to the people of Indiana. 

As he looks ahead to the 2026 season, including the 50th Running of the Mini-Marathon and the 70th anniversary of the Parade, Dave is excited to experience every event from this new perspective. He’s especially inspired by the Festival staff, longtime partners, and the opportunity to strengthen relationships with IMS and the IMS Museum. 

Success in his first year, Dave says, will look like an energized team, an engaged board, strong partnerships, a revitalized Corporate Member program, and smooth operations during this milestone spring. 

What motivates him most is personal. A native born and raised in Indiana, Dave and his wife are now raising their four children in Butler-Tarkington, making this role a meaningful way to combine his career passions with his love for the community.

To longtime supporters, his message is simple: thank you. And to those who have never been part of the Festival before, his invitation is just as straightforward: 

“Just participate. Raise your hand. Volunteer. Sign up for one of our events. Become a corporate member. Bring your family to the Parade. This organization belongs to the community, and we will do everything in our power to make it an enjoyable experience.”