PBN Leaders & Achievers Awards 2025
DAVID PEART
Rhode Island FC LLC President
DAVID PEART IS GROWING soccer in the Ocean State in the only way he knows how – centering community-building at the project’s core.
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The Pittsburgh native, who is currently Rhode Island FC’s president, has had a three-decade-plus career in sports and broadcasting. To achieve that long-standing run, Peart drew from the symbiotic relationship Pittsburgh sports teams have with city residents there.
“In Pittsburgh, sports matter more than they do in most places. I probably gravitated toward the business of sports based on the attractiveness of those pro teams,” Peart said. “I happened to be sort of at the right place at the right time, when the business of sports was evolving, becoming less about the technical side exclusively and evolving into true businesses.”
Peart said Pittsburgh’s sports culture is unique beyond just the historical success of its sports franchises. He’s unsure of any other sports community where all of its teams don the same colors, he said.
But Peart moved from his beloved Steel City and went on a journey within athletics. This current expedition he’s on is about consistently challenging himself with new opportunities.
Peart says that when he arrives in a new market, it’s important for him to prove himself professionally and gain more responsibilities.
One such opportunity that Peart is tackling is raising the profile of soccer in Rhode Island and in the U.S. Peart came aboard as Rhode Island FC’s new president one-third of the way through the club’s inaugural season last year – a season that saw the local club reach the United Soccer League Championship final.
Peart has made some impactful changes, such as ensuring that Centreville Bank Stadium is open year-round to generate revenue from concerts and other events. He also oversaw the creation of a comprehensive set of ticket sales and corporate partnership strategies.
The team also hosted a hiring fair, offering 400 jobs ahead of the stadium’s opening in May, which Peart said helped promote local workforce development.
“We’re making decisions that are in the best interest of the overall organization; that one team mindset, approach and attitude is really important for us,” Peart said.
