Soon, the Bowling Green Assembly Plant will have a new manager for the first time in 15 years.

Current Plant Manager Wil Cooksey is set to retire next March.

Under Cooksey's leadership, the plant's received numerous national accolades and awards such as "Best Sports Car" by Money Magazine and "America's Best Automobile Of The Year" by Automobile Magazine.

It's a dream fulfilled for plant manager and long-time Corvette enthusiast, Cooksey.

"I just envisioned how fun it'd be. I was looking at it in a fun standpoint, like a kid in the candy store. You're looking at your favorite car you want--all the different colors and combinations," Cooksey recalled.

Yet, after nearly 15 years at the plant's helm, Cooksey's hitting the dusty trail.

He says he's leaving the plant at its peak of productivity.

"You start thinking about where your organization is and where you want it to be as a plant manager, and I'm where I want it to be," Cooksey said.

His departure comes at a time when many are questioning the future of the Corvette plant in Bowling Green.

In the current GM contract, there's talk of possibly moving manufacturing of certain car models like the Corvette and Cadillac XL-R from their present plants.

While Cooksey can understand all the speculation, he says current production should be the focus here, not a possible move.

"Right now is not the time. We're not far enough along to be really worried about when all of this is going to take place," Cooksey said.

But he does believe that General Motors and the Bowling Green assembly plant will have a relationship long into the future.

"I think the chances of new products coming to our location is quite high," Cooksey noted.

So when he begins the process of cleaning out his office next March, Cooksey will be reminded of what he's told other GM retirees on their last day on the job.

"I always tell them there's life after General Motors, and that's what I'm telling myself," Cooksey said with a smile.

Cooksey will not be away from Corvettes for too long.

He'll be the "Chairman Of The Board" for the National Corvette Museum starting next year.

His replacement at the Bowling Green Plant is Paul Graham, who is currently the plant manager at the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas.

Graham has worked at a number of GM facilities around the country and in Mexico.

He will become plant manager in January.

For a look at Cooksey's bio, click here.