Author of 'The Power of Pragmatic Passion' to present at Shenango

Joe Battista to speak at Penn State Shenango on November 7.

Joe Battista, inspirational speaker and author of "The Power of Pragmatic Passion" to present at Penn State Shenango.

Credit: Rick Brandt

Joe Battista, author, professional speaker, and success coach, will speak at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Penn State Shenango Auditorium in downtown Sharon. He will discuss and provide insight into his new book, "The Power of Pragmatic Passion: 7 Common Sense Principles for Achieving Personal & Professional Success." The event, which is being co-sponsored by the Penn State Shenango Alumni Society and Penn State Shenango Advisory Board, is free and open to the public and will include light refreshments. Doors open at 5 p.m. A book signing will precede his presentation—books will be available for purchase.

“Joe Battista is a Penn State gentleman with a life passion to help others,” said Penn State Shenango Advisory Board President Sam Bernstine. “If you want to be entertained, educated and excited all in 60 short minutes, you need to meet Joe Ba in person on Wednesday night, November 7.”  

In addition to his evening presentation, Battista will be speaking to Shenango students and the campus community at 12:15 p.m. in the Great Hall. The former associate athletic director for Penn State’s Pegula Ice Arena & Hockey Operation will be arriving bright and early the morning of Nov. 7 to meet with the campus’s newly formed men’s basketball team at the Buhl Community Recreation Center, where he will speak to the players about how to use athletics as a catalyst to plan for a successful life. Throughout the day, he also will meet with other campus leadership, students, as well as board members.

Battista is currently owner of Pragmatic Passion Consulting and serves as the vice president of Business Development and an executive coach for the National Athletic and Professional Success Academy.

During his career, Battista has served in numerous capacities in business, intercollegiate athletics, and with professional sports teams. He was the former vice president of Hockey and Business Administration for the Buffalo Sabres and director of Amateur Hockey Development for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Battista, however, spent the majority of his career in various positions at Penn State University (1987-2013) where, in addition to athletic director for Pegula Ice Arena, he was executive director of the Nittany Lion Club, one of the NCAA’s largest booster organizations; and director of Major Gift Fundraising for the Smeal College of Business.

Battista has spent his entire career transforming organizations and teams, counseling professional and college athletes, and coaching individuals of all ages on life skills and career transitions. He is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Hall of Fame and will be inducted into the PA Sports Hall of Fame this coming November.

"I am excited to join the students of Penn State Shenango, my friends and colleagues from the area, and the Penn State alumni, who always inspire me to live life with a passionate purpose,” said Battista. “My ‘pragmatic passion’ is to inspire others to live a joyful, meaningful, passionate and purposeful life in service of others. Dream Big. Keep it Real. Get it Done!” 

For more information, contact the Penn State Shenango Alumni Department at 724-983-2900.