PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Richard Peterson has been an active community contributor for many years. He is the founder, director, and chairman of the board of the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center, a Denver-based non-profit whose mission is to promote the employee-ownership model as an important business option in our nation’s system of free enterprise as a path to greater commercial vitality, employment opportunity and economic security. He has an extensive and long history of board experience including serving in education at a high school for dropouts known as the Colorado High School Charter. Richard assists in forming non-profit corporations and local housing authorities across Colorado and actively engages the community in workshops and trainings. He is a passionate entrepreneur who seeks to spread sustainable business models and works to assist the community in transition to cooperative structuring while championing fair housing and social justice.

EDUCATION

  • B.A., Ohio Wesleyan University
  • B.D., University of Chicago

HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • Manager of the Year, Denver Board of Realtors in 2003
  • Art and Bea Branscombe Award for Fair Housing by Housing for All in 2002
  • Who’s Who in America in Executives and Business in 2001
  • The family Tree Award by Lift Every Voice in 2000
  • Bill Gross Award for lifetime commitment to fair housing in 2000
  • You Have Made a Difference Award by Metro Volunteer Lawyers Committee in 1998
  • Human Relations Award from United Methodists in 1992
  • Manager of the Year from Perry and Butler Realty in 1989
  • President’s Distinguished Award from Denver Board of Realtors in 1989
  • Mayor’s Award for Public Service in 1988
  • Denver Community Leadership Forum recognition in 1984
  • President’s Distinguished Award from Denver Board of Realtors in 1983
  • Distinguished Service Award from RE/MAX of America in 1979 and 1980

LEADERSHIP HISTORY

1989, 2000 Metro Denver Fair Housing Center; Chairman, Board of Directors

1990-2003  Metro Denver Fair Housing Center; Member, Board of Directors 

1988  Colorado/Wyoming Chapter of Certified Residential brokers; President

1987 Housing for the Poor and Aged Committee, National Board of Realtors; 

1987 Housing for the Poor Committee, Denver Board of Realtors; Chairman

1986 Denver Board of Realtors, President

1986 Colorado Association of Realtors, Director

1986 New Horizons Task Force; Co-chairman appointed by Governor Lamm

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2003-Present Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center; Founder, Director

1993-2003  Keller Williams, Team Leader/ Broker

1988-1993  Perry & Butler Realty; Branch Manager 

1986-1989 Re/Max Gateway; Manager

1985-1986 Premier of America; President

1981-1985 Re/Max Cherry Creek; Partner

1975-1981 Re/Max East; CEO/ Owner/ Chairman