Who says you need to pursue only one dream at a time? Messiah alumna Bre Grignano ’09 follows her many passions with a degree in sports and exercise science (now called health and exercise science). Grignano works three jobs: a director at sports performance facility Power Train and Sports Fitness, a game-day media relations assistant to the Philadelphia Eagles and a sponsorship coordinator for the radio show Faith on the Field.
In her professional roles, Grignano says she has found that many of the classes she took at Messiah—such as Sports and Society—challenged her to pursue her love for sports, fitness and faith. After graduation, she moved to New York City to manage corporate wellness for Bank of America. During her time in the city, she connected with sports professionals on LinkedIn and landed a part-time position on game days for the New York Jets and the New York Knicks.
“I did a lot to get to where I am now,” she said. “Never underestimate the power of networking.”
Grignano says LinkedIn has become an essential part of her career, connecting her with people who are in the industry, and she advises students to do the same.
After a few years in New York City, Grignano found her way back home to Pennsylvania. She became the director of Power Train Sports and Fitness in York, Pennsylvania.
“What I studied in school directly applies to what I am doing now,” she said, using her exercise science degree to train athletes and clients, all while promoting the brand of the company.
With her past experience helping to run game days in the NFL, Grignano also transitioned into the part-time role with the Eagles. On game days, she helps the public relations staff assist the media in the press box. Those duties only grew as the Eagles advanced through the playoffs and won the Super Bowl.
“It was so awesome to see ... players pray together on the field before these big games and use their post-game press conferences giving credit to the Lord and showing humility,” she said.
As she became more comfortable with her career path, Grignano applied her interests and knowledge for the greater good of God’s kingdom. Through networking, she came across Faith on the Field, a Monday night radio show (on 610 Sports ESPN Radio) about the impact of faith on the sports world. In this role, she seeks out sponsorships and partnerships with organizations in the Philadelphia area, creating and supporting live player events.
“I want to help make positive changes in the NFL,” Grignano said, “and would like to encourage players to be involved in service and share their testimonies with others.”
—Liv Ungurean ’16 and Anna Seip