Pepp a successful businessman and avid car collector assumed the position of Executive Director on June 15, 2010.
Pepp, co-founder of Titan Industries, a manufacturer of industrial rubber hose, as well as Perimeter Industries, a manufacturer of boat dock bumpers and accessories developed and patented by Pepp. Titan was sold in 2008 and Pepp continued with the company until October of 2009. Mr. Pepp was looking for a new challenge after leaving Titan that would combine his 40 years of business experience with his passion for all things automotive.
Prior to the Petersen Automotive Museum’s Grand Opening, an organization was formed to support the newborn institution. That organization, the “Checkered Flag 200” was, and still is, an entity with a roster that is a “who’s who” of people in the automotive world. Buddy Pepp was one of the founding members, issued card number 10 of what was at that time considered to be a very optimistic goal of 200 members. The Checkered Flag 200 today is the premium membership level of the Petersen Museum and has well over 400 members.
Mr. Pepp has served on the Checkered Flag 200 Executive Committee since its inception and has co-chaired many philanthropic events at the Museum including the hugely successful “Deuce Week” celebrating the 70th anniversary of the 1932 Ford, “Corvette Day”, and most recently the First Annual Petersen Garage Sale and Swap Meet held last December which brought in $13,000 to support the M useum’s educational programs.
Due to his successful business career and his enthusiastic automotive passion, the Petersen Museum Board of Directors felt Mr. Pepp was a natural fit take the position after former Executive Director Richard G. Messer retired. Pepp has quickly embraced his new role and looks forward to making the world-renown Petersen Automotive Museum an even better place for families to visit and learn about California’s rich automotive culture. Of his new position, Mr. Pepp said, “This is the most exciting opportunity of my life. I am proud to be a member of this organization, and I am honored to have been chosen to lead this wonderful institution.”
The Petersen Automotive Museum is dedicated to the exploration and presentation of the automobile and its impact on American life and culture using Los Angeles as the prime example. Encompassing more than 300,000 square feet, its exhibits and lifelike dioramas feature more than 150 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles on three floors of exhibit space. Visitors are invited to experience the first floor “Streetscape” which takes them on a journey through time as they trace the history of the automobile through a lifelike, walk through diorama. The second floor presents five rotating galleries with state-of-the-art displays of racecars, classic cars, vintage motorcycles, concept cars, celebrity and movie cars, and auto design and technology. The third floor May Family Discovery Center is designed to spark interest in science by way of the automobile, the 6,500 square-foot, interactive “hands-on†lea rning center teaches children basic scientific principles by explaining the fundamental functions of a car. The Museum also is home to five different event venues available for rent, including a nearly 18,000 square foot pavilion and an all-glass penthouse.
For more info on The Petersen Automotive Museum: www.petersen.org.
