SAEM Alumnus John Blattenberger Works for the Pittsburgh Steelers Alumni Profile
Meet John Blattenberger '19
- Job Title & Employer
- Ticket Sales & Retention Seasonal Associate, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Major/Program
- Sports, Arts & Entertainment Management
- Hometown
- Saltsburg, Pa.; Saltsburg High School
- Now Living In
- Bloomfield, Pa.
- Hobbies & Interests
Sports! I coach a flag football team for children two to three times a year with Pittsburgh Flag Football. I love all genres of music and discovering anything new or old that I may not have heard before. Beyond that, I simply enjoy spending quality time with those closest to me.
"Say yes to any and every opportunity. You never know where it may lead you. Make connections with as many people in your desired industry as you possibly can. This starts by connecting with your professors. Sit in the front of your classes and always ask questions. You or your parents are investing a lot in you. Get your, or their, money’s worth."
What does your job entail?
My job primarily involves customer service for all Steelers season ticket holders. I enjoy the flexibility of my role, as well as developing and maintaining relationships both internally within the organization and externally with our fans.
You previously held sales and marketing roles with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Penguins. How did Point Park's SAEM faculty and coursework prepare you for a career in the sports industry?
Point Park’s SAEM faculty helped me tremendously. I owe a lot to the them for helping me land internships early on in my very young career. She is no longer with the University, but Angela Scaramucci is who I credit with helping me land my first internship, which, ironically, was with the Steelers. I also look back fondly on the times I received direction and insight from others such as Paige Beal and Robert Derda.
You also interned for the Penguins and Steelers during your undergrad. How did those experiences make you career-ready?
These experiences in particular really helped ground me initially, as well as helped me understand that, despite all the glitz and glamour of sports, the industry itself is a business just like any other. This may seem obvious, but many outside the industry don’t recognize this.
What career advice do you have for current SAEM students?
Say yes to any and every opportunity. You never know where it may lead you. Make connections with as many people in your desired industry as you possibly can. This starts by connecting with your professors. Sit in the front of your classes and always ask questions. You or your parents are investing a lot in you. Get your, or their, money’s worth.
Why would you recommend Point Park's SAEM program to a prospective student?
I’d recommend Point Park’s SAEM program to any prospective student because of the faculty and the location. The faculty have a ton of experience and genuinely want to help you. Many classes are small in size, so you really have no excuse to not connect with faculty. You can’t beat the campus' location. No matter what discipline or aspect of SAEM that you’re interested in, you will find opportunities in Pittsburgh.