Sarasota entrepreneurship ‘icon’ to speak at USF Sarasota-Manatee

• September 20, 2024
• Campus News, Events

By Marc R. Masferrer, University Communications and Marketing

USF Sarasota-Manatee alum Pete Petersen, an "icon" of the Sarasota business community recognized for his success as an entrepreneur, will share his experiences and other insights during a "fireside chat" at his alma mater on Sept. 26.

Petersen, who sold his first company at 23, was CEO and managing partner of Dealers United, a social advertising agency for the automotive industry, and co-founder of BuyerBridge, a platform helping businesses manage, deploy and scale advertising campaigns. He is now managing owner of PETE3, a management consultant company.

Petersen is also a co-founder of Sarasota.Tech, which organizes networking events for the local tech community; an advisor and co-investor at Bridge Angel Investors; and an advisor and investor in several Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) businesses. He is also a board member for Gulf Coast CEO Forum and Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

The event will start with a reception in the FCCI Rotunda at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, followed with the fireside chat in the Selby Auditorium at 5:45 p.m. The conversation will include a Q&A with Allen Clary, executive director of USF Nault Center for Entrepreneurship, a nationally-ranked, multidisciplinary, campus-wide center for entrepreneurial education.

"Sarasota-Manatee is a very vibrant, creative community with a long track record of successful entrepreneurship," Clary said. "Pete Petersen exemplifies that with his journey from aspiring professional baseball player, to his first job loading concrete, to ultimately building a company and selling it to achieve financial freedom - and for what's next."

Petersen's success story is exactly what aspiring entrepreneurs needs to hear, Clary said.

"Nothing is more important, inspires or teaches the essentials of entrepreneurship more than hearing the actual journey stories of successful entrepreneurs," he said.

"Hearing Pete's journey and success path will be a truly inspiring, can't miss event," said Joni Jones, campus dean for the Muma College of Business at USF Sarasota-Manatee.

"USF Muma College of Business and the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship instituted the Conversation with a Founder speaker series on the Sarasota-Manatee campus to shine a light
on our local entrepreneurs and share their stories and vision," Jones said. "Pete Petersen is an icon in the region."

A limited number of free tickets are available at usf.to/pete-petersen

The Conversation with a Founder Speaker Series is sponsored by Aberdeen Advisors and Cyndeo Wealth Partners.