Rising ICON #13: Chuck Peters
What name do you prefer to be called?
Chuck Peters
What are your pronouns?
He/Him
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Twin Cities, graduating from Lakeville North High School, but about half of my childhood was spent in both St. Paul and Minneapolis.
What city are you currently based in?
I currently live in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul.
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
I’m a former Manager of a Big 4 consulting firm specializing in Data & Digital Trust. I recently founded a new media platform connecting Minnesotans to their community by using the tools of social media while implementing safeguards to create a healthier online experience.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I left Minnesota for ten years expecting to settle down in another city, but moved back to the Twin Cities because this community has so much more to offer. I’m a die-hard Minnesotan now.
Who do you help?
I help small businesses, local journalists, and elected leaders more effectively reach and engage members of their community (and vis-versa!)
What are you building now?
I’m building a media platform to reignite and redefine local news called Ambit Media Co. It’s similar to social media in that small businesses, local journalists, and elected leaders use it to speak directly to their local audience.
What were you building ten years ago today?
Ten years ago I was building a personal brand and a resume as a student!
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
Ten years from now I’ll be a community leader helping others apply their talents and skills to solve problems in the community.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
71% of Americans get their news from Social Media (Pew Research: Link)
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
The quality of information people consume drives the quality of the decisions they make. In the same way that executives need accurate information to make informed decisions about their company, citizens need accurate information to make informed decisions about their day-to-day life.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
I’ve been influenced a lot by my high school coach, Brian Vossen, who emphasized that the two things in life you can control are your attitude and your effort.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
Ambit publishes regular newsletters highlight impressive people who are bringing their talents to the community. I’m proud of a recent newsletter highlighting John Peterson at Yellowbird Coffee shop on Selby Ave and the ways his coffee shop exponential improves the community.
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
I wanted to be featured as a Rising ICON 😊 but now I’d love to talk with Downtown Voices about revitalizing downtown by supporting small businesses.
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
For a serious conversation, I’d love to talk with Georgia Fort and the powerful work she’s doing with the Center for Broadcast Journalism. For a light-hearted conversation, I’d love to talk with Sheletta Brundidge… Sheletta is indeed a boss lady who makes me laugh!
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
Cleaning up our information ecosystem to win the War on Truth.
What award would mean the most to win?
I’d be honored to win a Saint Paul Business Award. I’m all-in on St. Paul!
What makes zero sense to you?
I don’t understand why our society is so dependent on the automobile – It’s inefficient, unaffordable, and unsafe for both physical health and our environment.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
“News”. The word should be associated with information people can put into use, but instead is associated with ‘doom and gloom’. Local journalists are a positive force in our community, and I’m focused on rebranding local news with younger adults.
What game are you changing?
The game of local news.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
We’ve lost touch with our communities after a global pandemic and an increasingly digital world. I want to invite more people to participate in the Twin Cities community and all it has to offer. America is experiencing a loneliness crisis where 15% of - or 1 in 7 – young men don’t have a single close friend, compared to just 3% in 1990 (Survey Center on American Life). I want to make it easier for people to connect with their community and be more active locally!
Where can we follow you online?
First, follow Ambit’s profile on Ambit Media! But if you’re not yet on Ambit, follow or connect with me on LinkedIn.
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Humility
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Chuck, for sharing your story!
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“The quality of information people consume drives the quality of the decisions they make.”
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