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