Mark Peters serves as Chief Executive Officer of Butterball Farms, Inc., America’s leading producer of culinary butter and margarine and a second-generation family business based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Peters began working on the factory floor at his father’s company at the age of 12, an experience that gave him firsthand insight into the challenges facing frontline workers. At 30, he took over the company with a commitment to building a financially successful business while enriching the lives of its employees. Under his leadership, Butterball Farms was nationally recognized as one of The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® from 2018 through 2025.

In 2003, Peters brought together a group of CEOs and community leaders to establish The Source, a nonprofit organization designed to help employees overcome personal challenges that can interfere with their success at work. The organization has helped hundreds of workers while delivering an average annual return on investment of 300 percent to its partner organizations. The West Michigan-based model has since been replicated in nearly 10 states and continues to evolve with a focus on helping frontline workers grow and advance in their careers.

Peters is the author of The SOURCE, which shares his journey from working for his father to developing a leadership philosophy centered on enriching lives, and The Retention Trap, which challenges businesses to rethink traditional approaches to employee retention and instead focus on investing in their people. Recognized for his leadership by organizations including Ernst & Young and McDonald’s, Peters is an experienced speaker and storyteller who has addressed TEDx and other audiences on leadership, workforce development, and building stronger organizations.