Mark Peek’s career hasn’t turned out as he expected, and that’s just fine with him. Peek is Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer for Amazon.com, one of corporate America’s great success stories in recent years. He had something entirely different in mind when he graduated from Minnesota State Mankato about 25 years ago.
Back then, Mark interviewed with recruiters from several major accounting firms who had come to campus looking for fresh talent. He took a job with one of the forerunners of today’s Deloitte, and he began his career in Seattle, where he and his family remain today
"I thought I’d stay here for two years and go back to start a small firm," Mark says. "But it didn’t work out that way."
Mark traces his interest in accounting back to his youth in Albert Lea, where his father ran a small business that relied on the work of a local firm to keep its finances in order. As a student, Mark took on a challenging load of course work. He completed a double major in accounting and business administration, with a concentration in international business. He also minored in economics.
Mark made time to get involved in campus life. For two years, he was an RA in Gage Hall, where he once ran a small accounting operation out of his room-doing other students’ tax returns for $10 apiece-and where he met his future wife, Theresa Eggermont.
In the College of Business, faculty urged him to think, to ask challenging questions, and to focus on building long-term success. Mark went on to 20 years with Deloitte, and he moved to Amazon.com nearly six years ago. He is now a leader in a company that has grown and thrived while other online businesses withered.
"Part of what we’re doing here is building a company that is going to last a long time and not focusing on the quarter-to-quarter results like a lot of public companies," he said.
In fall 2005, Mark returned to campus through the Executive Lecture Series sponsored by the College of Business. He found "a great environment for learning" on campus, and speaking to a crowd of business students, he discussed his career and the future of online business. He also offered advice and urged students to think about the best route to long-term success and satisfaction.
"Pick something that you are passionate about," Mark said. "What is it that causes you to lose track of time? Think about that, and then see if you can find a way to build your career-your life-around it."
