News Release
September 2001
(Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania) - Peter A. Rafaeli, the Consul General of the Czech Republic,
will present a special lecture focusing on entrepreneurship on Monday,
October 1, 2001, at 6:30 p.m. The lecture, sponsored by the Moravian
College Accounting Club, the Business Club and the International Club,
will be held in the United Brethren Church Room, located in the Haupert
Union Building at Moravian College.
In January of 1984 Rafaeli acquired an interest in West
German Sales Corp. of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania - an authorized
Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Mazda dealership. In 1988 he added the Oldsmobile
franchise which he held until September of 1996. From the original minority
stake he ultimately became sole owner with his daughter. While operating
the dealership, which was finally sold in January 1997, he was the President
and C. E.O. of the organization which grew from 35 employees in 1984,
when he arrived, to a peak of over 130 employees. The sales growth went
from 300+ units in 1983 to over 1200 units at its peak year. The sales
volume of the business when sold was approaching the $50 million mark.
The business was sold in 1997 thus providing Rafaeli with more time
to perform volunteer work.
Currently Rafaeli operates his part-time Dealer/Manufacturer
consulting business in addition to performing his consular duties and
other non-profit organization support work. In addition to the consular
work he serves on the following: Board of Directors of the Old York
Road Symphony Society, Board of Directors of E. Montgomery County, PA
Chapter of the American Red Cross, Executive Board of SVU (Czechoslovak
Society of Arts and Sciences) and is a member/counselor of a local chapter
of SCORE, an entrepreneurship promotion organization under the auspices
of the U.S. Government's Small Business Administration.
Rafaeli was born in the former Czechoslovakia where he
received his elementary and high school education. He graduated high
school from Montgomery County, Maryland Evening High School. He attended
John Hopkins University's Evening College in Baltimore, Maryland where
he majored in Business Administration.
