Meet John
John T. Peters has spent over three decades as a thought leader and innovator in travel, tech, media, and urban redevelopment. Using digital innovation and the power of strategic partnerships, he has grown and revolutionized these industries, always focusing on the customer journey as a corporate beacon. A consummate storyteller, John shares his passion for the perfect customer experience as a way for businesses, large and small, to experience explosive growth. As a serial entrepreneur and senior executive of large public companies, he has dedicated his professional life to providing unique, strategic solutions to business problems and opportunities. While he despises the term, he’s been retained as a “change agent” for hundreds of projects, including his current one.
From Startup Founder to senior executive at public companies to speaker, and author.
John’s unique, unconventional career path started while he was a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University when he founded his first company, Zeus Tours and Yacht Cruises, with a family friend in Greece. Over fifteen years, he and his partner grew Zeus into the leading international tour and yacht cruise line in the Mediterranean, having built intimate yachts that accommodated 50 passengers each as an alternative to the large cruise liners. The two partners sold Zeus in 1999.
The next startup was Tripology, a travel tech company, where as CEO he grew the VC-funded startup, eventually selling it to Rand McNally, where he became the SVP/GM of Digital Strategy for the company.
His corporate roles were just as interesting. As President of the Travel Media Group at USA Today/Gannett, John was recruited to lead a team of almost 100 in the development and implementation of a strategy for transition from a print media organization to the fourth most popular travel site on the internet, with digital solutions and properties for every hotel and cruise company as well as every airport in the USA.
As VP of Business Development at RCI/Wyndham, John developed and implemented new processes and systems to sell resort inventory in bulk, in multi-million dollar deals.
In 2024, John released his first book, “Marketing on Main Street—Winning Solutions to Grow Your Small Business” (BWC Publishers), which discusses how small businesses can use proven strategies to thrive. You can read more about the book HERE or order it from Amazon and other fine online booksellers.
One of John’s favorite roles was that of a Managing Director at Brush Creek Ranch in Wyoming
Located on 35,000 acres in Saratoga, Wyoming, Brush Creek Ranch is the world’s most exclusive ranch resort. It was here where John was recruited to launch various businesses and projects, including an upscale retail merchant of high-end luxury goods (The Mercantile), a brewery, creamery, distillery and a Wagyu beef program.
A World Away is Hackensack, NJ
John currently serves as the Executive Director of the Main Street Business Alliance in Hackensack, NJ. The MBSA is a private/public partnership with the City of Hackensack set up to manage the Special Improvement District (SID) referred to as “Downtown Hackensack”. The SID is comprised of over 160 commercial properties and 350 businesses. John was recruited by the MSBA Board of Trustees in 2023 to lead the District through growth and innovation to match the growth achieved by the City of Hackensack in recent years. John is affectionately referred to as “That Main Street Guy” by locals. In 2024, John was also named Executive Director of HACPAC, the Hackensack Performing Arts Center.
John leads the MSBA in all of its efforts including core Clean and Green services, Events, Marketing and Public Relations as well as business recruitment and retention. Read more about the special improvement district at www.downtownhackensack.org
A recognized Speaker, Moderator, Mentor, and Author.
John is a frequent speaker and moderator at domestic and international conferences including Caribbean Week (for the government leaders of the Caribbean countries), World Travel Market, The Los Angeles Times Travel Show, The New York Times Travel Show, ITB Berlin and many others. He has made numerous radio and television appearances and has been featured in such publications as The New York Times, USA TODAY, Reuters, ABC News, MSNBC, Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, Business Insider, Internet Weekly, and La Nacion, Argentina’s largest newspaper. John also frequently presents at universities on the subject of entrepreneurship, for both graduate and undergraduate students. John was awarded the GOLD Adrian award for Digital Marketing Promotion for the “Best of the Road®” program he created while at Rand McNally, which generated over a billion media impressions. John was also recognized as “Innovator of the Year” by the US Travel Association. John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Certified Travel Industry Executive certification from The Travel Institute. John serves and has proudly served on the board of Make-a-Wish Mid-Atlantic and the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Conrad H. Hilton School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, Nightfood, Free Forest School, ReZme, and many other organizations.
Tech Savvy with Proven Results
John T. Peters is a business strategist, author, and executive who helps small businesses—especially those in Special Improvement Districts—grow using a blend of AI, Generative AI (GenAI), and proven local marketing strategies. As Executive Director of both the Main Street Business Alliance and the Hackensack Performing Arts Center, John leads initiatives that drive economic revitalization, attract foot traffic, and create lasting business impact through data-driven decisions and smart community engagement.
A digital innovator with deep experience in travel, media, and urban development, John equips small business owners with practical tools—including AI-powered automation, local SEO (GEO), and GenAI content solutions—to compete and thrive in today’s marketplace.
He is the author of Marketing on Main Street – Winning Strategies for Growing Your Small Business and co-author of Greek Proverbs and Sayings. A former startup founder and senior media executive, John brings real-world insight to every project and every stage of business growth.
John regularly speaks on the future of AI for small business, downtown revitalization, and economic development. He lives in Connecticut, works in New Jersey, and can be found online at www.johntpeters.com.
Q: Who is John T. Peters?
A: John T. Peters is a small business growth expert, marketing strategist, author, and travel industry veteran.
Q: What does John specialize in?
A: John helps small and medium-sized businesses, in a variety of industries, grow through innovative marketing, strategic partnerships and alliances, and community-driven programs. John helps small businesses grow by using AI, Generative AI (GenAI), and local SEO (GEO) strategies to improve visibility and efficiency.
Q: What books has John written?
A: John is the author of “Marketing on Main Street – Winning Strategies for Growing Your Small Business” and co-author of “Greek Proverbs and Sayings.”
Q: Where is John based?
A: John is based in the NYC Metro area, though he has a client list of companies all around the world.
Q: How can I connect with John?
A: Connect with John on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/johntpeters.