From the court room to the ticketing office, and now armed with a new degree, Morgantown native Leighann Sainato has gained a fresh perspective in her young professional career.
Starting as a community relations intern with the West Virginia Black Bears in August 2017, Sainato worked closely with Jackie Riggleman, then the assistant general manager and a CPASS Sport Management masters graduate. Now, two years later, the Black Bears have announced the promotion of Sainato to ticket operations and public relations manager.
“It’s not just public relations in the traditional sense, anymore, it also incorporates community relations, media relations and everything in between. I oversee all of our day-to-day financials and most of our marketing department, as well,” Sainato added.
Sainato graduated from West Virginia University in 2009 with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in History and English literature. Sainato opted to return to WVU to earn a law degree, specializing in contract law. While working in Pittsburgh, Sainato realized she wanted to shift her focus to sports business.
“The sports industry can be very difficult to break into, especially with little background or familiarity, so going back to school was one of the best options for me to network and get experience. Because WVU has one of the best master’s sports management programs in the nation, it seemed like the natural choice,” Sainato said.
As a sport management student, Sainato says the master’s program at CPASS exceeded her expectations.
“Gaining professional knowledge is the most beneficial part of the program. The professors highly encourage it. There are many opportunities that the college offers, so everyone has a chance. The experience was practical and useful when it came time to search for jobs,” she said.
Sainato held various positions within the WVU Athletic Department, including as a student assistant in athletic communications. Sainato graduated with her master’s degree in Sport Management in 2019 and is grateful for the opportunities and career lessons WVU offered.
“My advice to current and future CPASS students is to take internships and GA positions, work any and every event you have the opportunity to be part of, because, if nothing else, gaining the experience is worthwhile. And when you do have the opportunity, work hard. People will remember your work ethic,” Sainato said.