NYA - New York Auto Museum World Motorsport Hall of Fame is set to become one of the world's leading Museum attractions.
Our proposed 200,000+- square-foot Manhattan location is set to impress. With a planned rooftop patio and partially glass floors, NYAM visitors will get to see above and beneath many of the extravagant vehicles on display. Also another original exclusive world-first; allows visitors to sit in up to 100 vehicles at any given time.
The New York Auto Museum is developed to change the way you think about an automotive museum.
NYA is continuously working to forge partnerships with OEMs, media conglomerates, automotive aficionados, race car drivers, race car team owners, Fortune 500 companies, automotive journalists, the public, VIPs, the State of New York, New York City, and NY Grant Company.
NYA is led by a seasoned board of advisors, directors, and executive management. Anticipated financial partners include major banks, OEMs, advertising agencies, publicity firms, investment funds, private equity firms, players in heavy industry, and entities from the broader private sector.
Otto F. Wachs C-level experience started at VW in 1990, during his career, he reported to 5 different global CEO's at Volkswagen AG in Germany. First as Head of Communications for the Chairmans Office and later as Chief Communication Officer for Volkswagen.... Otto develop and created Autostadt, a leading communication platform for the Volkswagen Group. As the CEO of the Autostadt, Otto built, led and transformed the multi-brand park starting in 1999. Autostadt is the world largest automotive super destination museum with over 2+ million visitors a year. His high office profile corporate business experience in all aspects of communications and marketing; makes him to a top expert in creation of super destination Automotive Museums. Otto retired in 2018 as CEO to start his career as an independent automotive consultant and connoisseur. Before joining the New York Auto Museum in 2020 as Chairman of the Board of Advisors.
Former Chamber Of Commerce CEO for 13 years. Appointed by the Secretary of Defence to New Mexico’s State Chair for ESGR - 6 years. Past State President of the Nevada Jaycees - JCI Senator 8261. ... Received the Rotaries Paul Harris Fellow Award 2 times. Served on several Boards and Commissions in State Government. I worked for the American Heart Association for 22 years as Deputy Executive Director, I live in NM 6 months and Kentucky the other 6 months. Served as Creator and First President of the National Corvette Museum. Inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame in 2004. Spend over 37 years creating, fostering and advising the National Corvette Museum! The museum will celebrate its 30th years of operation in 2024! Own 2 Corvette a 1972 Stingray and C-7. Married to Belinda, we celebrated our 24th anniversary - we have 5 adult children
Jeff Levine is a Successful Entrepreneur, with over five decades of leadership experience
spanning Automotive Parts Sales, Real Estate Development, Property Management, and
Banking. Residing in Brookfield, Connecticut, he has built a reputation for driving growth,
reducing costs, and leading high-performing, cross-functional teams to achieve measurable
results.
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He is widely recognized for providing superior customer service, fostering long-term client relationships, and delivering consistent value to partners and stakeholders. His broad-based expertise includes strategic planning, sales and marketing, distribution, vendor relations, logistics, product portfolio management, business development, fiduciary oversight, and corporate governance. For more than 20 years, Jeff served on a bank board, including as Chairman of the Board and Chair of several key committees, providing governance oversight, strategic direction, and financial stewardship.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jeff is deeply committed to family and entrepreneurship. He partners with his son-in-law in a car storage business, combining seasoned,leadership with next-generation vision to grow and refine the venture. A proud father of two daughters and grandfather to four grandchildren, he values legacy, mentorship, and building opportunities that extend beyond business success. Jeff continues to bring strategic clarity, operational excellence, and a collaborative spirit to every endeavor he undertakes.
David Senater is a Canadian-born entrepreneur, automotive enthusiast, and cultural curator based in Toronto. He currently serves as the Executive Director and Chief Archivist of the New York Auto Museum (NYAM), a role that positions him at the forefront of automotive heritage and luxury culture. His leadership
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is instrumental in shaping NYAM into a premier destination for car enthusiasts and collectors. Senater's professional background spans luxury goods, design, and strategic consulting. He has advised Fortune 100 companies on product development and design, leveraging his expertise to influence high-end markets. Additionally, he chairs the proposed Watch & Jewelry Hall of Fame in New York City, underscoring his deep involvement in luxury sectors.
Beyond his work in the automotive and luxury industries, Senater is an advocate for innovation and urban development. He has provided advisory support to the United Nations for the creation of the United Nations Innovation HUB, a project planned for Toronto's waterfront at Ontario Place as well as the Toronto Auto Museum www.torontoautomuseum.com
Senater is also actively involved in motorsport journalism, having contributed to platforms worldwide. His multifaceted career reflects a commitment to blending passion with professional pursuits, making him a notable figure in both the automotive and luxury industries.
Blake has more than 35 years of senior leadership experience in the financial services industry, currently Executive Director, Head of U.S. Wealth Management
Marketing Controls for J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, responsible for strategic marketing governance oversight across the wealth management platform.
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His overall career spans a broad range of disciplines, including branch and regional leadership, real estate strategy, advertising, mergers and acquisitions, and marketing legal and regulatory functions across consumer, business, and wealth management lines.
In addition to his corporate leadership, Blake served for nine years on the board of the American Lung Association – Midland States.
Outside of his professional career, Blake is a history buff and an avid automobile enthusiast specializing in late‑1960s to early‑1970s American performance vehicles, with a penchant for Dodge, Plymouth, Buick, and Oldsmobile brands. He holds an automotive design patent, and actively participates in sanctioned quarter‑mile drag racing events with his restored vehicles – celebrating the engineering and performance heritage of these iconic vehicles… “They were built for this!”
Ivan Francis is a passionate automotive enthusiast with a strong technical and engineering
background in the automotive and mobility industries. He started his career as an engineer
with both Ford and General Motors, and has recently been an executive with an automotive
/ mobility company (Vontier Corp NYSE:VNT), where he was the Enterprise Vice President
of Lean Transformation, and the interim Chief Transformation Officer.
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Mr. Francis spent 6+ years as a strategy consultant and leader in A.T. Kearney’s Automotive
Practice providing consulting services to OEM’s (DaimlerChrysler, Ford Brazil) and Tier 1
suppliers (Federal Mogul, Behr Automotive) for a variety of product design/development
and strategy projects. Ivan also has museum experience, having providing pro-bono
services as a strategy consultant to the Detroit Motown museum to increase their
attendance. He has also been a volunteer at one of Detroit’s leading museums/tourist
attractions. Ivan’s career also includes working at IMAX, a global leader in the design and
delivery of immersive entertainment and tourism-based experiences.
Mr. Francis enjoys driving – having owned a TT in the past, and he has completed driving
programs at BMW’s driving school in Munich, Germany, and at Bridgestone’s Formula 2000
Racing Academy outside of Toronto, Canada. He has also been a multi-year volunteer at
the Detroit Grand Prix Indy Car Racing series.
Ivan has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of
Toronto, where he graduated with the Wallace Chalmers award for excellence in product
design, a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing from the University of Windsor,
and an MBA from Michigan State University. Ivan has also completed graduate courses in
Product Design, Engineering and Entrepreneurship at Stanford University. He holds a
professional engineering (P.Eng.) designation from Professional Engineers Ontario (non-
current), is a former member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and has been a
volunteer with the Society of Automotive Analysts.
David is a technology executive and licensed engineer with a background
in cloud architecture, software engineering, and large-scale IT
strategy. With a career spanning engineering, infrastructure
modernization, and digital transformation initiatives, he has led
cross-functional teams in designing resilient, scalable systems that
support long-term organizational growth. His experience includes
Kubernetes-based deployments, enterprise systems integration,
cybersecurity strategy, and aligning technical roadmaps with business
objectives.
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As a Fractional CTO, he advises organizations on technology leadership,
operational efficiency, and strategic innovation. He works closely with
founders and executive teams to modernize infrastructure, implement
automation, and build secure, future-ready platforms. Known for
combining hands-on technical depth with executive-level perspective, he
brings a pragmatic and forward-thinking approach to technology
governance and digital execution.
Archor Wright is a seasoned technology leader with over 40 years of hands-on experience in the computer industry, having delivered results for several major global organizations in both the public and private sectors. His distinguished career includes senior Program and Portfolio Management roles supporting the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), General Services Administration (GSA), and Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
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Archor is widely recognized for his innovative contributions, including directing cyber situational awareness programs, coordinating A.I. steering boards, developing machine learning roadmaps, and driving complex systems integration, cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity initiatives across high-stakes government environments.Holding a B.S. in Computer Science and an A.S. in Computer Electronics, he excels in full lifecycle IT project management, stakeholder engagement, risk mitigation, and process optimization.
His technical fluency, combined with exceptional leadership in team mentoring, resource allocation, and cross-agency coordination, has consistently produced strategic solutions that enhance operational efficiency and mission success.
Beyond his demanding day job, Archor has developed and published several applications on the Steam platform for Windows. He maintains a lifelong passion for cars, jets, boats, and the rapidly evolving field of autonomous vehicles powered by artificial intelligence.
Eric-Mark Huitema is the former Director General of the European Automobile Manufacturers™ Association (ACEA), a position he has held since October 2019.
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Prior to his ACEA appointment, Mr Huitema acted as Global Smarter Transportation Leader at IBM, where he focussed on optimized transport solutions for governments and smart cities, as well as the private sector. In this capacity, he was member of the Corporate Partnership Board of the OECD - International Transport Forum (ITF), the board of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA) and the supervisory board of ERTICO (ITS Europe). Before joining IBM, Mr Huitema worked in the IT sector, including for Liberty Globals broadband internet start-up Chello Benelux (which he co-founded and led as Global Vice President), EDS International and Philips Electronics. A Dutch national, Eric-Mark Huitema studied technical chemistry at Delft University of Technology and business and sales administration at INSEAD.
Director-General Vehicles - AVERE – founded in 1978 – is the only European association specifically representing and advocating for electromobility. Throughout its decades of activity, it has built a reputation as a recognised actor promoting sustainable mobility across Europe and the world.
Mr. Terence Johnsson has over 25 years of C-Level automotive leadership experience with Audi, Volkswagen and General Motors.... He has led, transformed, and started businesses in most global markets including North and South America, China, Europe, Asia, and Africa / Middle East. Currently, Terence leads a startup consulting and investment firm based in Berlin where he focuses on his passion, building sustainable mobility solutions in emerging markets. Johnsson holds a Masters in International Business Studies from the University of South Carolina - The Moore School of Business.
Pop Artist & Racing Historian Bernd Luz, based in Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany and Schaffhausen, Switzerland, became one of the most internationally known Pop-Art artists in less than the last 10 years. ...
His works of art can be found in national museums, museums and galleries around the world. He looks back on more than 100 successful solo exhibitions worldwide during the last 6 years. He has designed numerous art calendars and is currently writing his third art book, Anecdotes from Motorsport.
The color poet with gasoline in his blood dedicates himself with particular passion to scenes from motorsport, which he brings to life with a lot of heart and soul on the canvas. The works of art are related to historical events and events in automotive racing. A tribute to important vehicles and events that have retained their glamor and fascination to this day and still cast a spell over people today.
Bernd Luz did his first breath in 1966 in Rottweil/Germany. Already from a young age he was working in oils and acrylics, comics and cartoons. In his youth he made films and won many film awards, including first place at the Swiss Youth Film Festival in 1986.
After graduation from High-School he studied photo design in Ravensburg and completed an apprenticeship as a surgical mechanic. Thereafter he studied design at the Constanze University of Applied Sciences, graduating as a designer. For more than 25 years now he runs his own design agency. He designed over 600 logos and won a variety of design awards and looks back on many publications in international best design books. He also gave lectures at various educational institutions also in the US. And so Bernd Luz is completely in the tradition of the great Pop icons. Many of them such as Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg or Jasper Johns originally came from the advertising industry. Indeed he developed his very own style, passionate, emotional and intelligent, he puts his art work in an exceptional media mix technology: He transfers the emblems of our culture that have been photographed and processed on the computer onto the canvas, which is painted with acrylic paint, using contemporary solvent printing, and in a further step he accentuates them again with painted interventions. This creates the special effect: A reflection of the past - with the expression, eyes and technology of our time.
Bernd Luz is a creative spirit, versatile and active, he remains true to himself and his innermost concerns: he is about communication, because it connects people - and is not that Art the most beautiful form of communication?
James is a Brand, Design, Digital, and Experience Innovation consultant in New York, where...
he helps large organizations strategize and execute on their digital visions. His work spans the gamut from small start-ups seeking growth acceleration, to larger established companies looking to rethink their approach to stay ahead in today's digital economy. Over his career, James has worked in Product Design, Environment Design, Communications, Healthcare and Business Enterprise Technology and advised the likes of the National Museum of African American History and Culture Museum in Washington DC, and the National Center of Popular Music in his native England.
James' passion for story-telling and experience is what has driven him to work on brands such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, and BMW. An expert "Design-thinker" and seasoned problem-solver, he tackles any issue/opportunity from all perspectives to deliver actionable roadmaps: digital-experiences, loyalty programs, digital business models, service design, and brand-culture.
After leaving England over 20 years ago, he moved to New York where he resides with his wife and 10 year-old daughter. On weekends they can be found exploring the "ever-changing culture" of New York or exploring various museums across the city.
Alex Teplish has worked diligently for over 25 years to become a leading innovator, futurist, and expert in digital technology, graphic design, marketing, and technology team leadership. Throughout his expansive career spanning a variety of industries, Alex has consistently been driven by a passion for innovation.
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His most recent corporate experience includes serving as the Vice President of Digital Services at Omnicom Health Group, the largest global network of healthcare marketing agencies, where he spearheaded the establishment and expansion of the Global Development Center, driving digital transformation and process standardization.
Prior to this, Alex ran his own agency focused on creative digital development, marketing campaigns, and experiential projects for clients across diverse sectors. As a skilled storyteller, he has tapped into his creative side by authoring two graphic novels - "In The Beginning: The Epic of the Anunnaki" and "Survivor: Aron's Story." The latter, an illustrated memoir using a unique format to teach history through a true personal story of his grandfather's survival during WWII and the Holocaust, has earned awards and recognition for both the book and its supplemental interactive virtual museum. This powerful work has been incorporated into school and college curriculum.
A lifelong New Yorker after growing up in Brooklyn, Alex continues spreading messages of innovation and empathy through his professional endeavours, multimedia presentations, and passion for cutting-edge technologies like generative AI that he actively experiments with. His multifaceted background positions him as a unique visionary at the intersection of technology, creativity, and human-centric storytelling.
James B. is a humanities scholar, nonprofit builder, and lifelong motoring enthusiast who founded The Sports Car Institute (SCI) to rejuvenate car culture for Gen Z through ... hands-on education, design history, and safety-first performance. He spent 34 years teaching English and Film Studies (Arizona State University), holds graduate degrees in English and Film Studies, and is completing an M.S. in Forensic Psychology, adding behavioral-science insight to driver education and risk ethics. Previously, he founded and directed an award-winning Shakespeare theatre company, gaining board, budgeting, fundraising, and community-program experience. A manual-transmission owner and active lecturer, James treats the automobile as technology, design, and cultural text—crafting programs that connect museums, tracks, collectors, and classrooms to preserve heritage and cultivate the next generation of engaged, responsible drivers.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Ginet is the Creator and Owner of
Driving Ambition LTD and Auto Sport Collection, a division of Driving
Ambition S.A. Private Automobile. ...
He is also an advisor for the F1 Grand
Prix Driver's Club for the Formula One Grand Prix Drivers Club.
He has also had more than 30-years of experience selling classic and sport
cars in the world's most challenging markets: U.S., Europe, and Australia.
Demonstrated leadership in re-engineering operations to optimize
distribution channels; Specialty Developments, manages, and guides sales
activities for the organization. Designs and applies the sales strategy and
sales plan. Expert in Classic and sports cars
Languages:
French, English
Education:
Thevenon University France International Business & Management, 1986-1988
Medical University Grenoble France Sport medicine, 1982-1984
Oxford Brookes University UK 1979
Interests:
Motor racing, Classic and sport cars, distribution and importation sport and
classic cars.
Shawn Cuffie is an acclaimed producer, choreographer and entertainment visionary who has staged hundreds of successful events across North America for over the last 26 years. ...
As Director Of Event Production and Development has created large-scale corporate and charitable events for Pepsi, TD Bank, Rogers Communication, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Air Canada, the Mandala Legacy, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario and many more.
Thanks to his bold vision, Shawn has choreographed for many of Canada’s most spectacular festivals and concerts. A few of his credits include: The Black Diamond Ball, The Toronto Raptors, The Miss Canada World Pageant, the Festival of South Asia, the Irie Festival, Pride Festivals, exciting live concerts for Kiss 92.5 and many live fashion shows.
A passionate supporter of the creative arts, Shawn gives back to the arts community through Artxperiential Projects, an innovative non-profit he founded and helms as Creative Director. Artxperiential Projects goal is to increase awareness of the types of bullying that youth face in technology, media, and within the community while spreading a message of anti-bullying and anti-violence by showcasing diversity and culture through the arts.
Award winning designer/ educator and historic preservationist. PhD in Fine arts/design. Master's historic preservation..... Over 6000 student graduates from various colleges and universities in multi-state locations. Award winning designer for celebrities, sports figures, government officials. Lead historical preservationist on multiple projects throughout the mid-atlantic region. Director of Design at Thomasville and Colony House furniture. Former Naval aviator now owner of Secure Flight VIP flights, servicing VIP's, celebrities, International government officials and our own at the highest levels. Former officer in a large Pennsylvania based Antique Auto Club. Looking forward to enhancing the efforts of The New York Auto Museum and World Motorsports Hall of fame.
Gabriel Smith FAIA LEED AP, is a New York City based architect with experience in the US, UK, Europe and South America. Focused primarily on museums, he has led more than one million square feet of complex projects for cultural, education... , commercial and government clients to completion including Net Zero Carbon and LEED Platinum projects. He holds degrees in architecture from Harvard and Tulane and was elected to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows for his contributions as a designer in 2015.
Russ Brown was recently the President of Consumer Products, Promotions and Ad Sales at Valiant Entertainment since 2012, the year Valiant was relaunched. ... Superhero merchandising is his claim-to-fame, having helped resurrecting the Marvel characters in merchandising (leading to the acquisition by Disney), and did the same for Valiant, the third largest universe of superheroes with over 2000 characters. Post the acquisition of Valiant by DMG Entertainment he also oversaw the licensing relationships held by DMG in the US and China including their relationships with Hasbro, Studio Canal and Playmobil to name a few. Russ lives the practice of integrating the three disciplines in his title and has done so for other brands and brand owners, including but not limited to ABG, Martha Stewart, Iconix Brand Group, AT&T and MasterCard. Additionally, he co-founded a marketing and licensing company 36ep. In addition to an extensive licensing background, Russ ran major promotional and advertising accounts in the US, and overseas, for Interpublic and Young & Rubicam for the brands including Heineken, AT&T, MasterCard, AOL and the Guggenheim Museum, and was the CMO for several packaged goods and beverage companies. Russ has held adjunct professorships at Fordham University, New York University and Adelphi University. In the off hours you can find Russ gardening and sailing Long Island Sound.
Lawrence is a experienced Frontend Developer with a background in architecture design. He takes pride in turning mock designs... into buildable code.
Pardhu is a New York–based graduate student in Artificial Intelligence with a passion for building intelligent systems and creating seamless digital experiences. He has hands-on experience in machine learning, data analytics, predictive modeling, and computer vision, with projects ranging ...from ADAS-based automotive vision systems to medical image analysis and interactive dashboards. Alongside AI, he enjoys web development and UX/UI design, focusing on creating intuitive, responsive, and accessible digital platforms. Driven by curiosity and continuous learning, Pardhu aims to bridge AI, data, and design to develop innovative solutions that are both intelligent and user-friendly.
