PETER STALTERI

November 28, 2007 12:35 am

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in accounting from Providence College, Providence, R.I., 1990

Master of Business Administration in finance from Canisius College, Buffalo, 1994

Master's in sport administration from Canisius College, Buffalo, 1998

FAMILY: Married to Michelle Stalteri, a first-grade teacher at Grafton Village Elementary in Stafford. They have one daughter, Emma, 3, and one son, Andrew, 20 months.

CAREER HISTORY: Stalteri has worked in public accounting, college admissions, college and university intercollegiate athletic departments, and pharmaceutical sales. They all have had an important role in his owning and operating his own business.

FIRST JOB: Working in the kitchen of a restaurant.

WORST JOB: My first job was cleaning the ovens, fryers and the kitchen every Sunday at a restaurant.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? Amherst, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? A college or university athletic director at the Division I Level.

HOW DID YOU END UP OWNING GOTCHA COVERED? I was commuting to D.C., and my daughter Emma was born and I was miserable that I got home so late I couldn't spend time with her. So I began looking for a business franchise to buy, and Gotcha Covered kept making the most sense with all the growth in Fredericksburg. It has definitely suited my personality, selling experience and my ability to relate well with others.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? The drive to succeed and my family. Fear of failure is a wonderful motivator.

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO? Treat people as you would like to be treated and good things will happen.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT THE BUSINESS CLIMATE HERE? There has been a tremendous amount of growth during the time I have opened. It has helped me tremendously. The business community has been wonderful to work with and the networking opportunities with the local associations has been great.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DECISION YOU'RE WRESTLING WITH NOW? How to work on my business and not in it. I would like to eventually hire some staff, but it is difficult to pay myself and also be able to afford staff. I would like to expand my drapery and soft-side business with hiring someone to handle that part of the business.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR JOB? For the most part I have enjoyed every minute of owning Gotcha Covered, but I never can relax because you're only as good as your last month in sales. You always have to be hustling!

WHAT BUSINESS BOOK DO YOU MOST RECOMMEND? WHY? "E-Myth Revisited" by Michael Gerber. It talks about taking a leap of faith. Opening your own business can be pretty scary, and this book helped me overcome my fears.

--Kafia Hosh