Peter Guptill
Organization: Retired
Committee Position: Member
After graduating from the University of Colorado and serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy, Guptill began his distinguished automotive career at the Ford Motor Company. In 1972 he joined American Motors Corporation (AMC), ultimately achieving the position of Group Vice President, Sales and Marketing. While with AMC, he was instrumental in developing the strength of the Jeep brand.
Guptill was named Executive Vice President, International Sales and Franchise Development for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group on January 1, 2003. He brought to his position a broad base of successful experience in the automotive industry, as he did to his immediate past position as President of Dollar Rent A Car - Florida since September 1993. In January 1995, he was also named General Manager of Dollar International Division, in addition to his other duties.
It was Guptill's appointment as President of Dollar Rent A Car - Florida that provided his entrance to the travel and tourism industry. He then, became active in the industry, becoming a member of the Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Association of America in 1994 and being appointed by the Governor of Florida in 1998 as a Commissioner to the Florida Commission on Tourism and the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. In 2002, Guptill was elected Chairman of VISIT FLORIDA and Vice Chair of the Florida Commission on Tourism, chaired by Governor Jeb Bush.
Guptill retired from Dollar in August 2004, but was soon back to work in February 2005 as Executive Vice President of Fahlgren Advertising. Guptill headed the Florida office of Fahlgren which counted amongst its prime clients, VISIT FLORIDA. Guptill and VISIT FLORIDA collaborated on many innovative and successful programs during his tenure, which ended with his retirement in December 2009.
Guptill's prior management experience encompasses senior-level automotive executive positions with a major domestic manufacturer, as well as foreign distributorships, retail dealership operations, automobile field consulting and profitable entrepreneurial ventures.
Guptill lives in Tampa with his wife, Susan.