Robert M. Peto has served since 2003 as CEO and Executive Secretary/ Treasurer of the Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters, which has 21,000 members. Under his leadership, Council employees manage activities throughout the Council’s jurisdiction, which covers all of Ohio, four counties in Kentucky and four counties in West Virginia.

Peto’s professional career as a carpenter began more than 32 years ago. He joined the carpenters’ apprenticeship program in 1974 and became a journeyman carpenter in 1978. He was employed by the Strano Construction Co. for more than 20 years running and overseeing some of the largest jobs in Northeast Ohio before becoming a Business Representative of the Council in 1993.

During his employment as a journeyman carpenter, Peto took an active role in the Union in the mid 70’s and early 80’s. He has more than 20 years of service as officers of Local 1750 and Local 21, one of the largest Local Unions in the state. Peto began service to Local 1750 as Trustee, then Treasurer and later as Financial Secretary. When the Unions merged, Peto continued serving as Financial Secretary for Local 21.

After Peto became a Business Representative of the Council in 1993, he continued to hold several supervisory positions, most recently as Director of Organizing.  Peto provides leadership to the Council through his service as Chairman of the various boards of the multi-employer benefit plans within the state. These boards manage pension and annuity funds in excess of $3 billion, as well as the health benefits of Council members. Peto also serves as Trustee on the boards of the state’s four Joint Apprenticeship Training Centers.

He has been recognized by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America for his achievements and has the honor to serve on the United Brotherhoods’ Financial Oversight Committee which oversees $38 billion. He also is Chairman of the Midwestern District Promotional Fund which handles activities throughout sixteen states.  Peto serves on two additional committees of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America, the National Retail Committee and the Financial Secretaries’ Committee.

In January 2005, Peto joined the board of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority to complete the remaining three-year term of a retiring board member. He serves as a Cuyahoga precinct committee person and is an Executive Board member of the Northern Ohio Region of the American Red Cross. Additionally, he is on the Board of Directors of the New England Trust bank of Providence, R.I.