As Managing Director, Bill leads the CEO Connections division where he develops and oversees multi platform initiatives to connect clients with CEOs and enhance their market eminence in the CEO community. He also helps determine which CEOs are appropriate to be interviewed on The CEO Forum properties.
Prior to The CEO Forum, Peters had a 35-year career in the home and hospitality furnishings industry where he was CEO twice. His whole career Bill has specialized in developing sales and marketing programs for various markets.
A graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Textile Technology, Bill began his career as a traveling sales representative, selling fabric to furniture manufacturers and fabric distributors. Within four years, Bill first became a regional sales manager, then a national sales manager before holding positions as director of marketing for multiple companies. In 1996 Bill was named Vice President for Sales for F. Schumacher & Co. At the time, Schumacher was the largest home furnishing distributor in the U.S. In this position, Bill was responsible for all product sales to J.C. Penney Co. along with Jo-Ann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby Stores and all of the major furniture manufacturers in North Carolina. In 1999, Bill was name President and CEO of Osborne & Little U.S.A. He held this position for ten years before leaving to take over Stroheim Inc. as President and CEO. In 2009, Stroheim was sold to Fabricut Inc. Bill left the company to start Browning & Chandler, a specialized distributor of fabrics and home furnishings to interior designers, hospitality specifiers and marine fabricators. Bill has served on numerous industry boards. Most recently he was Vice President of the Decorative Furnishings Association. In addition to his industry affiliations, Bill is a certified EMT and member of the National Ski Patrol.