Jason Pizatella

Cabinet Secretary, West Virginia Department of Administration

Jason Pizatella is in the business of improving West Virginia.

As the cabinet secretary of the West Virginia Department of Administration and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, Pizatella has transitioned his career in law to one of politics and public service.

The oldest child of his family in Fairmont, WV, Pizatella claims he’s not sure where he got his interest in politics, as his family was “the least political of any out there.” They did, however, teach him the importance of voting and civic duty, provide support and help him see that he wanted to make a difference.

Growing up, one of the defining attributes of the Pizatella household was their love for sports—one that has stood the test of time. “We were always competitive,” he says. “I dreamed of one day becoming commissioner of Major League Baseball. My first job growing up was umpiring little league baseball games. I wasn’t good enough to continue playing baseball after high school, so I really focused on the officiating aspect of sports.”

That passion continues to dictate some of how Pizatella spends his time today; he volunteers as an official for baseball and basketball youth sports leagues in Charleston. He also serves the community through his faith with numerous Catholic organizations by volunteering at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral as a Eucharistic minister and lector and serving as a member of the Serra Club and St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Society. He also works on events and fundraisers with community organizations such as the Charleston YWCA, Leadership West Virginia, Generation Charleston, Generation West Virginia and the West Virginia State Bar.

After attending law school, Pizatella began practicing law with Spilman Thomas and Battle, PLLC in Charleston, where he focused on corporate and business law with an emphasis on government affairs and public utilities. He joined the Tomblin Administration in 2011 as the governor’s liaison to the State Legislature. On July 1, 2013, Governor Tomblin appointed him as his deputy chief of staff.

“I was the youngest deputy chief of staff in the U.S. I’m extremely proud of this, and that pride turns to being grateful for the things I was blessed with at such a young age,” he says. “I am often the youngest person in the room. Sometimes, that means I am met with skepticism about my ability or whether I deserve a seat at the table.”

He counters that skepticism by always being prepared for whatever he may face and constantly learning. “It’s better to listen first and talk later. I try to employ a calm, deliberate style that puts people at ease.”

His jobs in government have put him in a uniquely advantageous position that holds a lot of responsibility, but Pizatella is always up for the challenge. “I’ve tried to be a person that leaders across West Virginia—in both private and public sectors—can call on when they need help,” he says. “Knowing that the work performed by the governor and his administration affects the lives of the 1.8 million people that live and work in West Virginia keeps me motivated.”

Though he didn’t initially set out to be in a political position, he has undoubtedly found himself among West Virginia’s foremost decision-makers. “We are living in West Virginia at a critical time for the future of our state,” he says. “Diversifying our economy must be an ongoing priority for our state’s leaders, and I want to be a part of the generation that can say we made the Mountain State at the top of the rankings that are good and near the bottom of the rankings that are bad. It won’t be easy, and I’m just one person, but I want to see the bright future for West Virginia that I know is possible and, in some respects, not far away.”

What is your favorite…?
Color – Navy blue
Food – Pizza
Cartoon Character – Dexter from “Dexter’s Laboratory”
Ice Cream – Mint chocolate chip
App – Shazam
Midnight Snack – Popcorn
TV Show – “Nashville” and “Scandal”
Movie – “Apollo 13”
Sport Team – West Virginia University Mountaineers
Place – Anywhere in West Virginia