The new director of the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce brings to the job a hugely diverse background that includes government and private sector careers and that of an entrepreneur as well. William R. Peterson is ensconced at the Red Apple Plaza office of Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce, where he recently replaced Doug Shreve. 

"Our current membership is 500 strong and my goal is to double that in two years," said Mr. Peterson. "The vision for the chamber parallels my vision for the county, which would be to foster a long-term development effort in the north, east and south."

Specifically, he said he'd like to see an industrial and commercial base along the 301 corridor, north of Route 213.

"Connect the colleges so that Washington College is supported by us as a liberal arts center and see that Chesapeake College develops along the complementary lines of sciences and technology," he said. "Then Route 213 becomes the academic highway between hard science and liberal arts with the county seat of Centreville lying adjacent to an economic, industrial, business center."

Another long-term goal is the creation, in the next decade, of a tri-county interstate airport that would accommodate small jets, and a re-introduction of industrial rail service. The north end of the county now has limited rail service.

While many of the long-term goals focus on infrastructure for industry, Mr. Peterson said his immediate goals involve small business owners and their need to maintain an economic climate that will enable them to grow and flourish.

Toward that end, the chamber entered into a three-year partnership with Delmarva online, which brought DSL broadband to the chamber office.

"We're about to institute a chamber and Delmarva training institute for small business Internet training," Mr. Peterson said. "We will help small businesses use technology as a means of marketing beyond our shores. "

The chamber has revamped its Web site and is going to make sections or pages available to small businesses that don't have their own Web pages.

And last, but certainly not least in today's political climate, is the chambers function as a political action committee.

"Are we political? You bet we are," said Mr. Peterson. "The chamber is bipartisan, we're in the business of business."

He said the chamber will probably pick a slate of candidates to endorse in next month's general election based on who shows the best understanding of economic development and fiscal management to promote quality of life.

Mr. Peterson, a Chester resident, brings a unique background to his position of director. He graduated with a master's degree in foreign service from Georgetown University, and was an Air Force lieutenant colonel with 15 years of active duty, including 20 Special Intelligence Operations missions. His government career includes time with the CIA, NSA, and at the Pentagon.

After his military career, Mr. Peterson began a new venture in private industry when he bought a retail clothing company, moved it to Annapolis, achieved major sales increases, then sold to Ralph Lauren/ POLO.

Over the years he was a program manager for E-Systems Corp. in Falls Church, Va., an account representative for MetLife in Annapolis, and an investment banker with Perkins-DeMaris Investment Banking in Annapolis.

For 12 years Mr. Peterson has been president of Peterson Investment Banking, a company he still owns. He represents clients in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. His business also includes corporate development consulting.

Leslie Crook is a freelance writer living on Kent Island. 
 

Published October 06, 2002, The Capital, Annapolis, Md. 
Copyright © 2002 The The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
 

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