Pete Searles

About Pete Searles

Pete is an innovation and infrastructure strategist operating at the intersection of advanced data systems, human performance, and place-based economic development.As Chief Operating Officer of MDMi, Pete leads growth strategy, commercialization, and operational scaling for advanced data and modeling platforms serving materials, engineering, CPG, high tech, defense, and energy markets. His work focuses on helping organizations move from managing complex technical data to leveraging it as a strategic asset through scalable architecture, AI-enabled workflows, and disciplined execution.In parallel, Pete is a founding leader of Athletic Community Experience (ACE) and Total Performance Sports (TPS) — a mixed-use innovation and human performance development platform designed to integrate sports activation, research, commercialization, and community-based economic growth. The model converts daily activation into year-round economic density, talent attraction, and durable taxable value per acre.Across these efforts, Pete focuses on:• Structuring public-private capital stacks and infrastructure strategy• Designing scalable operating platforms and commercialization roadmaps• Building strategic partnerships across corporate, civic, and investor communities• Aligning technical innovation with executable growth strategyPrior to MDMi and ACE, Pete spent 20 years at Procter & Gamble, where he led global innovation, packaging science, consumer research, manufacturing technology, and sustainability initiatives. He built and led cross-functional teams from upstream R&D through commercialization and developed industry-wide strategic partnerships across supply chains and technical ecosystems.Pete is known for translating complex systems into structured, executable growth platforms — whether inside a Fortune 50 enterprise or a greenfield innovation district.He is a graduate of The Ohio State University.

Experience

1. Chief Operating Officer

   Mdmi

   May 2022 — Present

   MDMi helps organizations unlock the full potential of their dynamic data. We specialize in the design and implement data management solutions that connect information, people, and tools across engineering, R&D, and manufacturing. By simplifying and automating complex data and workflow processes, we enable faster innovation, stronger collaboration, and smarter decision-making.Our work brings together AI/ML, digital thread integration, and advanced analytics to transform disconnected data into actionable intelligence; accelerating modeling and simulation, improving quality, and amplifying business performance.As COO, I lead strategy, operations, and partnerships, aligning teams and technology to deliver measurable business value and sustainable growth.

Education

• The Ohio State University

  BS Materials Science & Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering

  1994 — 1999

Skills

• Management
• Engineering
• Lean Manufacturing
• Product Innovation
• Injection Molding
• R&D
• Consumer Products
• Product Design
• Validation
• Research and Development (R&D)
• Design of Experiments
• Manufacturing
• Leadership
• Project Engineering
• Research
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Packaging
• Product Development