Former Florida Senate President Tom Lee has been named CEO of the Pepin Family Office, representing the family who founded the Tampa-based alcoholic beverage distributor Pepin Distributing Co.
Tom Pepin is the former CEO of Pepin Distributing, which was founded in the 1960s by his father, Art Pepin. Tom’s daughter, Tina Pepin, announced the launch of the Pepin Family Office this week on LinkedIn alongside Lee joining as CEO.
“With decades of experience in business, public service and leadership, Tom will guide strategic initiatives, investment efforts and partnerships that align with our mission of improving lives in Tampa Bay,” said Tina, who serves as executive director of the Pepin Family Foundation, which supports heart disease research and health and wellness services for first responders.
Lee, a Texas-born Republican, served in the Florida Senate for 18 years, from 1996 to 2006 and from 2012 to 2020. In 2021, the Pepin family sold Pepin Distributing to Redwood Capital Investment, the private equity firm of Baltimore billionaire Jim Davis.
In 1999, the Pepin family founded Pepin Academies, a tuition-free charter school based in Tampa for students with special needs. The family’s name also adorns the University of Tampa’s soccer field as well as the Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute.