LA Auto Show Names Barry Toepke to the New Position Of Director of Communications

LOS ANGELES, April 10 -- The Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, one of the leading international consumer and trade events, today announced that Barry Toepke will become the show's director of communications. Toepke will be responsible for the auto show's public relations and industry relations programs effective May 5.

"Barry brings strong credentials to the newly-created position," said Andy Fuzesi, general manager of the LA Auto Show. "Over the past 13 years, Barry has been involved as either an exhibitor or on the agency side spearheading the public relations campaign. His efforts on our behalf, particularly during the past eight years that his agency has worked with us, has helped the show evolve into one of the more recognized and respected shows."

Toepke brings more than 18 years of management experience to the auto show team. Prior to joining the LA Auto Show, Toepke was principal of VL Communications, a public relations agency whose clients included the LA and Houston auto shows and Monterey Historic Automobile Races, among many others. Toepke is dissolving the agency.

News coverage under Toepke's guidance has steadily increased. This year alone, national network and cable news coverage quadrupled what was received two years ago, and in Los Angeles local coverage has doubled.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for me both personally and professionally," Toepke said. "I've had the pleasure of working with many of the finest organizations, and the LA Auto Show has always been at the top of my list. I'm looking forward to devoting 100 percent of my efforts on continuing to develop the show, which holds a strong identity among the world's leading auto shows as it moves toward its 100-year anniversary in 2005."

  Beginning May 5, Barry Toepke can be reached at:

   LA Auto Show
   11835 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 625
   Los Angeles, CA 90064
   310-444-1850, tel
   310-444-5971, fax
   btoepke@laautoshow.com