Mark Peterson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University (1983), majoring in Management: Business and Farm. He began his career with an insurance company in loan underwriting, farm management, and appraising in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. In 1987, he transferred to Colorado where he performed the same duties in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. His responsibilities included appraising ranches and irrigated and dry farm properties as well as the management of several farms and ranches. In 1989, he transferred to California where he assumed responsibility for the management of several irrigated farms and permanent plantings, including almonds, vineyards, and citrus. He also started to develop a portfolio of loans secured by property in California, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
In 2005, Mark was hired to develop an agricultural loan portfolio for another insurance company focusing primarily on California agriculture, but quickly established a clientele base across the United States. During his employment with the two insurance companies, Mark originated over $1.5 Billion in agricultural real estate loans on irrigated and dry farmland, permanent plantings (nuts, citrus, vineyards, and berries), ranches, dairies, wineries, and processing facilities (e.g. tomato paste, nut, etc.). These loans included several permanent planting development loans, with the loans converting to long-term financing upon the completion of the development. Mark has originated agricultural loans in Delaware, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and California.
Mark started Kefa Capital, Inc. in 2009, with emphasis on loan and real estate brokerage, farm management, and consulting. His 40 years of experience of providing various services to different types of agricultural operations across the United States makes Kefa Capital, Inc. uniquely positioned to add value to large and small operations as well as pension and investment fund managers. He has developed a national and international client base primarily seeking investments in California agricultural real estate, with some emphasis on Midwestern irrigated farms and livestock.
Mark received his Accredited Rural Appraiser designation in 1993 and his Accredited Farm Manager and Accredited Agricultural Consultant designations in 2013. He has help develop several classes for the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers. He has held various board positions at the California Chapter and National levels and was the District VII Appraisal Experience Chair for several years. He is the Past-President of the California Chapter of ASFMRA and has served for five years on the ASFMRA National Executive Council, currently as the 2022-2023 President.
Mark resides in Landis, North Carolina, with Sally, his wife of 38 years. He continues to work with a broad spectrum of clients across the United States, with the primary focus being California permanent plantings.