My Story Vault with Dr. Dennis Rebelo30 Loka 2025

My Story Vault: Rich Peters on Learning, Leading, and Living Fully

From the Catskills to Colorado to the Berkshires, Rich Peters’ story is one of discovery, reinvention, and service. A former professional truck driver turned Chief Scientist at SABIC, Rich reflects on a life that proves learning doesn’t follow a straight line. Growing up in a working-class family where education wasn’t emphasized, Rich discovered his passion for learning later in life — after a chance encounter with Carl Sagan’s Cosmos while parked in his rig. That spark led him to community college, RPI, and eventually to a career leading polymer process development for engineering plastics used in automotive and aerospace applications.

Rich describes his time at SABIC’s Polymer Processing Development Center in Pittsfield as an “engineering playground,” where he worked on innovations like nanofibers and recyclable thermoplastics for the aviation industry. Now retired — or as he jokes, “bad at retirement” — he teaches at the Berkshire Innovation Center as part of the MIT Tech AMP program, helping technicians bridge the gap between theory and practice as technologists.

Beyond engineering, Rich has devoted decades to community service as a ski instructor and volunteer with STRIDE Adaptive Sports, helping people of all ages and abilities experience the joy of skiing. His story embodies curiosity, humility, and lifelong learning — showing how applied experience, education, and giving back can align into a life of purpose and meaning.

Links

Berkshire Innovation Center (MIT Tech AMP Program):
https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/

STRIDE Adaptive Sports:

https://www.stride.org/

Narrative Research Group:

https://narrativeresearchgroup.org/

For more information or to share a question or insight, please email Shannon [at] narrativeresearchgroup [dot] org

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My Story Vault: From a Break Before Law School to Porsche with Christian Trujillo

Christian Trujillo grew up in Middletown, New York, the son of Colombian immigrants who came to the United States in the early 1970s in pursuit of the American dream. Raised in a multicultural communi...

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My Story Vault: Returning Home to MCLA with Kristin Nichols

Kristin Nichols returns to the campus where her life changed, now serving as the inaugural Chief Marketing Officer at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In this conversation with Dr. Dennis Rebelo...

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My Story Vault: Helping Students See Beyond the Horizon with Aaron Bayer

Aaron Bayer’s story begins with a childhood defined by uncertainty. Raised by a family of traveling lounge singers, he spent much of his early life moving between communities, attending multiple schoo...

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My Story Vault: Voices That Care with Kaitlyn Keen

Kaitlyn Keen joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo in the Vault to reflect on a life shaped by advocacy, caregiving, curiosity, and community. Raised in Springfield, Illinois, Kaitlyn describes herself as an explor...

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My Story Vault: Building a Career in Microelectronics at 22

Jordan Callahan, a lifelong Berkshire resident, reflects on his journey from an energetic student at Pine Cobble School to Lead Manufacturing Technician at Noble Carbon, a microelectronics clean tech ...

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My Story Vault: Amanda Zepka on Integrity, Construction, and Being More Than One Thing

Amanda Zepka joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo in the Vault to reflect on a life shaped by movement, observation, and values-driven decision-making. Born and raised in rural Savoy, Massachusetts, Amanda grew up...

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My Story Vault: Juxtaposition of Trauma and Identity: Physician/patient, Teacher/student with Amy Sosne

In this episode of My Story Vault, Amy Sosne joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to reflect on a life shaped by trauma, resilience, and an ongoing commitment to trauma-informed education. A medical doctor, author...

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My Story Vault: The MCLA Storypath of Dr. Josh Mendel

In this episode, Dr. Joshua Mendel, Chief of Staff at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to trace a life shaped by service, community commitment, and long-standing t...

18 Joulu 20251h 3min