Lawrence A. Pepper Jr. - Vineland, NJ

Mr. Pepper is an Officer of the law firm of Gruccio, Pepper, De Santo & Ruth, P.A. He was awarded a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame in 1965. He received his law degree from Rutgers University in 1968.

Mr. Pepper's practice is concentrated in the areas of Business Law, Banking, Labor Law, Estate Planning and Administration and Governmental Law. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cumberland Insurance Group. He has also served as a director or member of advisory boards of several area corporations. Mr. Pepper has handled numerous mergers and acquisitions, has guided the administration of sophisticated estates, and trusts and has provided representation to clients in connection with complex banking and financial matters.

He has served as labor counsel to numerous counties and municipalities in South Jersey. Mr. Pepper has extensive experience in representing employers in collective bargaining negotiations, mediation, fact-finding, arbitration, and unfair practice proceedings.

He served as Prosecutor of the City of Vineland and as its First Assistant City Solicitor. Mr. Pepper served as counsel to the Vineland Industrial Commission and Vineland Economic Development Corporation and played an integral role in the development of the Vineland Industrial Park. He was also solicitor for the Cumberland County Sewerage Authority and General Counsel to the New Jersey Expressway Authority, the agency that operates the Atlantic City Expressway. He also served as labor counsel to the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the agency that now operates the Atlantic City Expressway and Atlantic City International Airport.

He is also active in numerous civic, cultural and charitable organizations. Mr. Pepper is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Guidance Center from 1972 to present; a member of the Board of Trustees of Hendricks House from 1992 to present; past member, Board of Trustees of Newcomb Foundation from 1979 through 1997; a past member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of South Jersey Health Care Foundation from 1997 to 2013 and a member of the Board of Trustees of Inspira Health Network from 2013 to 2021.

He has been active in New Jersey political circles, serving as Cumberland County Republican Chairman from 1975 to 2008. He has been an elected Delegate to Republican National Conventions on four separate occasions.

Mr. Pepper has been recognized for his community service, receiving the prestigious Gregor Mendel Award presented by St. Augustine Preparatory School and also received the Spirit of Achievement Award from the Italian-American Heritage Cultural Society. Mr. Pepper was awarded an Honorary Diploma by St. Augustine Preparatory School at its 2019 Commencement Exercises for his lifetime commitment to Catholic education.

He has been married to Lynn (Ingraham) Pepper for 54 years and has three children, Lawrence A. Pepper, III (wife Kim), Christa Toner (husband Michael) and Lori King (husband Curtis) and 9 grandchildren.