Ben Peterson is a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture with a minor in Geology; and a Master of Science Degree in Geography with an emphasis in Environmental Planning. He earned his AICP professional planner certification in 2004 and his GISP geographic information systems professional certification in 2010. He began his professional career in 1998 with the Green River Area Development District (GRADD) in Owensboro, KY working as a Community Development Planner and Transportation Planner.

In 2000, he took a city planner position with the City of Paducah where he was responsible for all aspects of short and long-range Planning & Zoning, Community Development, and Special Projects. In 2009, his duties shifted to managing and maintaining the 6-member McCracken and Paducah GIS Consortium. In March of 2016, Ben returned home to become the Executive Director of the City-County Planning Commission of Warren County.