Peters grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and graduated from Springbrook High School where he was a member of the two-time Maryland AA State Championship Football teams in 1979 and 1980. Peters earned a
Bachelor of Science in finance from the
University of Maryland, College Park and a
Master of Business Administration from the
University of Baltimore. He became President and Chief Executive Officer of The Peters Group, and through his business became involved with the Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce, Prince George's County Board of Trade and the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Peters was also a Captain in the
United States Army Reserve, and earned a
Bronze Star Medal during
Operation Desert Storm. In 1998, Peters successfully ran for a seat on the city council of
Bowie, Maryland, and four years later won a seat on the Prince George's county council. ==In the legislature==