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Pete Przepiora has joined Rapala VMC as its new Regional Sales Manager focusing on the Eastern United States as well as Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
In his new role, Przepiora will work with Rapala VMC’s retail partners and distributors to market all Rapala VMC brands sold in the U.S., including Rapala lures, knives, apparel and accessories; Storm, Blue Fox, Luhr-Jensen, and Williamson lures; StrikeMaster ice fishing augers and apparel; VMC hooks and terminal tackle; Sufix fishing line and leaders; CrushCity softbaits; and 13 Fishing rods and reels.
Przepiora will work with rep groups serving the needs of customers who sell both freshwater and saltwater fishing products.
"Pete brings a deep, grassroots understanding of what customers want and expect from manufacturers,” said Travis Tuma, Vice President of Sales for Rapala VMC. “Pete’s experience, knowledge, and passion for the fishing industry fits perfectly into the Rapala culture. With the recent addition of 13 Fishing and CrushCity, we're looking forward to continued growth of our strong portfolio of brands with Pete's expertise, especially in the bass category. We’re very excited to have Pete become part of the Rapala family.”
Born in Syracuse, New York, Przepiora fished for Great Lakes salmon with his uncle, but didn’t really discover his passion for bass and walleye fishing until in his early 20’s when his parents moved to Minnesota.
“I had some friends who took me fishing up at a cabin in northern Minnesota,” Przepiora said. “Bass and walleye fishing was a whole new experience for me. I remember tying on my first Rapala during that first trip, and I was immediately hooked. I couldn’t think of anything but fishing from then on.”
That passion for fishing later turned into a career, when Przepiora joined the fishing department staff of Cabela’s in Rogers, Minnesota, at the urging of his wife, Jennifer. Przepiora worked at Cabela’s for seven years, where he had the opportunity to move up into management. The experience gave him a deep appreciation for what anglers want in a fishing experience, as well as the baits and equipment they need to fulfill their dreams of catching more and bigger fish.
His obsession with fishing was dialed up to a new level when Przepiora noticed that many of his Cabela’s co-workers were fishing multiple times per week, cutting their teeth in summer evening bass tournaments. This is when Przepiora met and became friends with an up-and-coming bass pro named Seth Feider, and when he partnered up with another bass fishing fanatic, Aaron McGraw.
From there, Przepiora was recruited by the fishing tackle rep firm Ferguson Keller, where he got his first taste of product development and pro staff management. Przepiora later joined Omnia Fishing, which allowed him to work closely with all aspects of the bass fishing industry.
Przepiora credits Al and James Lindner and Charlie Davis, Director of Product Development at Rapala VMC, for mentoring him throughout his career, and fueling his passion for fishing.
“Each new career experience has allowed me to build on my passion and expertise in fishing,” said Przepiora. “I’m looking forward to helping Rapala VMC keep expanding its presence in the bass fishing belt, as well as on the East Coast and the saltwater market. Rapala VMC has a lot of momentum behind it, especially with the introduction of the new CrushCity line of softbaits, and I’m just really excited to be a part of it.”
ABOUT RAPALA VMC
Rapala VMC group is the world’s leading fishing tackle company and the global market leader in fishing lures, treble hooks and fishing related knives and tools. Rapala VMC was unofficially founded in 1936 when Lauri Rapala invented the Rapala fishing lure. Rapala VMC has grown from humble beginnings to become a market leader in the fishing tackle industry. The brand’s functionality and high quality are known by anglers worldwide. Rapala maintains strict standards of craftsmanship while delivering its fishing products to anglers in more than 130 countries. Visit www.rapala.com.
Media Contact:
Stephen Dupont