11/11/2025
From PTC:
5 Minutes with Pete Pickett, Chair of the Creo Routed Systems Technical Committee
Behind every great Creo feature is a user who spoke up and a technical committee that made it happen. It’s something Pete Pickett, Mercury Marine’s routed systems guru and longtime chair of the Creo Routed Systems Technical Committee knows well.
From mentoring new engineers to coaching junior high tennis, Pete brings insight, passion and a dash of doubles strategy to everything he does. We caught up with him for a quick-fire Q&A about harnesses, hidden Creo gems and why joining the committee might just be your smartest career move.
Q: So, who are you and what do you actually do?
I’m a technical specialist at Mercury Marine, part of Brunswick Corporation. I’ve been using Creo (formerly Pro/ENGINEER) since 1993, and I’m responsible for onboarding and mentoring anyone new to our routed systems work. I also help shape how we build harnesses for the marine industry, which we manufacture in-house in Juarez, Mexico.
Q: Any fun facts we should know about you?
I’m a tennis addict. I’ve been coaching the junior high team here in Stillwater, Oklahoma for over a decade and play regularly with a tight-knit community. I’m in a university town so you never know who you’re playing on the court. Some of the PhDs are very competitive! I don’t watch much tennis on TV unless it’s doubles. Doubles is fast-paced, strategic and way more fun than watching singles matches. It’s not just skill, it’s also about strategy.
Q: How did you get into routed systems and the technical committee?
My boss sent me to a PTC technical committee meeting in Boston back in 2002, and I was hooked! I’d already been presenting at conferences, but the face-to-face collaboration with PTC and other users was a game-changer. I chaired the committee from 2004 to 2010, stepped back briefly, and returned as chair in 2024.
Q: What exactly is the Creo Routed Systems Technical Committee?
It’s a group of Creo users, mostly engineers from industries like aerospace, defense and marine, who come together to influence the future of Creo’s routed systems and schematics tools. Our members include major organizations, many of which are satellite manufacturers and commercial space companies among others.
Q. Why exactly do these sorts of technical committees exist?
It’s a chance for users of the product to shape features and things we’d like to see that make our day-to-day jobs easier. It’s where ideas can turn into product features for the benefit of all of us. I’ve seen even little enhancements or tweaks to new functionality that put into the software just to make it either more user friendly or to make it more robust and that all comes from us as users. Also, PTC is a major enterprise software company. There aren’t many big hitters in the software industry that engage and take on the proactive user feedback in the same way they do.
Q: Why should a Creo user reading this join?
Because you get to help build the software you use every day. I’ve written white papers that turned into actual Creo features. It’s incredibly rewarding. As users, we have a unique perspective about what would make the product better. It’s also a great place to meet like minded people, bounce ideas of each other, solve problems and share knowledge.
Q. Can you give us an example of how you’ve influenced Creo?
I’ll give you two. There’s a network continuity check on the ribbon that came directly from my feedback. If you’ve ever wanted to say, “Hey, this button should do X,” and see it happen, this is your chance. And right now, we’re helping guide a major overhaul of the cabling and harnessing tools. It’s the biggest change I’ve seen in 30 years of using Creo. It’s incredibly rewarding to have this kind of input.
Q: How often do you meet?
We meet monthly, usually the second Tuesday of every month. We keep it friendly, practical and focused. PTC product management often join as well.
Q: What’s the vibe like?
It’s like a family reunion but we’re also very open and welcoming to new members. I’ve known some of these folks longer than I’ve worked at Mercury. We’ve had committee members get married after meeting at a technical committee meeting! It’s nerdy, collaborative and fun. Everyone’s passionate about solving problems and making Creo better.
What’s your favorite Creo feature?
I’d have to say auto-routing. Dropping 150+ wires into a harness and watching them route successfully is a thrill. We even joke about it at the office. “I got 150 out of 160 wires to route today!” It’s a small win, but it feels great. (Engineers reading this will understand). In general, I think it’s important to say that Creo is a really powerful engineering tool. I think a lot of people mistake it for a simple CAD drafting tool, which it can be, but it's much more than that. I'm a bit of an artist from the engineering point of view. If you take every drawing you create and treat it as a piece of art, you're going to try to work your hardest to perfect it. And Creo helps you do that.
Q: Final pitch. Why should Creo users get involved?
Because it works. PTC listens. You’ll get early access to new features, help shape the roadmap and solve real problems. Plus, you’ll meet brilliant people who care about the same things you do. It’s impactful, it’s fun and it’s open to anyone who wants to make Creo better.
Whether you’re a Creo veteran or just getting started, the Creo Routed Systems Technical Committee is your backstage pass to shaping the future of engineering design. Bring your questions, your ideas and we’ll save you a seat at the table.
There are more than 20 existing technical committees, covering a wide range of topics, from CAM and MBD to surfacing and system administration. Search online to join.
