Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act . These investments , collectively , will be transformational for our state .”
Always searching for ways to give back to the legal profession , Pizatella was a previous member of the West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board , West Virginia Water Development Authority , West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council , West Virginia Parkways Authority , West Virginia State Personnel Board and Capitol Building Commission . He has also been actively serving on the Fairmont State University Board of Governors since 2020 and was appointed by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to the Board of Law Examiners in 2016 , where he served until 2022 .
Having been involved with various leadership roles during the administrations of former governors like Joe Manchin and Earl Ray Tomblin and current governor , Jim Justice , Pizatella gained invaluable work experience that he still uses today . He also served two stints as the governor ’ s deputy chief of staff and worked as the deputy state tax commissioner , the acting cabinet secretary of the Department of Administration and served briefly as the CEO of the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce .
“ Each position had its own unique pros and cons , but each offered a different leadership opportunity from which I could accomplish ways to improve West Virginia ,” he says .
While having learned many valuable life lessons throughout his extensive career , Pizatella cites the values of integrity and honesty as some of the most important traits for success .
“ Whether you ’ re a lawyer , lobbyist , contractor or anything in between , your reputation is all you have . Once you lose it , you can never get it back ,” he says . “ I hope if you asked others about me , something they might say is , ‘ We weren ’ t always on the same side , I didn ’ t always agree with him , but he always told me the truth and you could count on his word .’”
Having had many mentors who constantly pushed him to be a better legal professional and person , Pizatella looks forward to one day returning the favor by mentoring the next generation .
“ I ’ ve been very lucky in my career to have really amazing professionals who took time to mentor a young lawyer and who stayed interested in my work both as a practitioner and outside the traditional scope of law ,” he says . “ I hope I can spend the next few years of my career , even though it ’ s outside the traditional practice law , mentoring young lawyers and law students about the various possibilities that a law degree can provide .”
Pizatella taught a Lawyers and the
Legislative Process seminar at WVU College of Law for several years as a testament to his dedication to educating budding lawyers in the Mountain State .
“ I try to devote my time and energy to causes that not only feel right , but that will also move the needle to help us move forward as a state ,” he says .
A born and raised Mountaineer , Pizatella takes immense pride in lifting up his state and the people in it in such a way that the rest of the world can see why so many are proud to call it home .
“ West Virginia has so much potential . The governor likes to say sometimes that , ‘ West Virginia is the diamond in the rough that everyone missed .’ I think he ’ s right ,” says Pizatella . “ I stayed here because I wanted to make a difference and I continue to be inspired by the people who call West Virginia home and refuse to give up on making the Mountain State the best that it can be .” •
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