In 1984, Petersen began working for the U.S. bicycle division of Bridgestone Tires in San Leandro, California in data entry and customer support. He later became a marketing director and product manager and in the early 1990s promoted the development of fat-tired road bikes inspired by emerging mountain bike designs.
Petersen joined Bridgestone's U.S. bicycle division in San Leandro, California in 1984, initially handling data entry and customer support. He later rose through the ranks to become a marketing director and product manager, playing a key role in introducing fat-tired road bikes in the early 1990s, which were influenced by mountain bike designs.