HMT Board Spotlight: Mark Petersma

January 22, 2026

Mark Petersma is the 787 Program CFO at Boeing, where he brings more than 15 years of experience in finance, strategy, and organizational leadership. He joined Heart Charleston’s Advisory Board in July 2024 and we’re grateful for the perspective and leadership he brings to Heart Math Tutoring’s mission.

What first drew you to Heart Math Tutoring?

When I relocated to Charleston from Seattle in 2023, I wanted to become more involved in the local community. Boeing’s community engagement team connected me with Heart and I immediately resonated with its mission of increasing math literacy through one-on-one tutoring. 

What inspires you to continue supporting Heart today?

Heart is at an exciting stage in Charleston. We have a strong foundation with our current partner schools and are delivering highly effective tutoring, but we also have substantial opportunity to expand the number of students we serve. As math proficiency becomes increasingly important – especially aerospace and manufacturing – it’s rewarding to help create a positive impact.

As you look ahead to the new year, what do you hope students will gain or experience through Heart?

At our core, we are a results-driven organization, so I love seeing academic growth at both the individual and aggregate levels. Equally important is the confidence students gain. Math can be intimidating so it’s inspiring when students realize that anyone can succeed in math.