When Joe Gette ā94 walks into PPGās Pittsburgh headquarters, he carries with him a quiet confidence, the kind that was forged years ago in the classrooms and on the basketball and tennis courts of ĆŪĢŅapp.
The Girard, Pennsylvania native never imagined that his liberal arts education would someday guide him through global mergers, boardrooms, and billion-dollar strategy sessions. But thatās exactly how it played out.
I loved that ĆŪĢŅapp let you explore before choosing a major,ā Gette says. āThat liberal arts mindset stayed with me. It gave me the confidence to keep trying new things until I found something I really loved.
Gette graduated with a major inĀ economics and a minor in Spanish a combination that, in hindsight, was perfect training for a global career.
After earning his law degree, he joined K&L Gates in Pittsburgh, eager to make his mark as a litigator. āI thought I wanted to be in court convincing a jury my client should win,ā he recalls with a laugh. āThen I saw what litigation was really like, endless discovery battles and document production, and realized I couldnāt do that forever.ā
So he pivoted. The firm let him switch to mergers and acquisitions, and suddenly everything clicked. āWith M&A, both clients want the deal to happen,ā he says. āItās more collaborative, more strategic, it just suited my personality better.ā
That insight set the course for what would become a two-decade career at PPG, one of Pittsburghās most storied global companies. Gette joined the company in 2005, drawn by the idea of helping to shape business strategy rather than just react to it. āIt was the best decision Iāve ever made,ā he says.
Fast forward to today. Gette serves as vice president, deputy general counsel and secretary, overseeing corporate and contract law across the Americas and supporting PPGās board of directors. In early 2026, heāll step into a new role as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, responsible for all global law, compliance, government affairs, and corporate communications.
āSimply stated, Iāll be responsible for many more people, departments, and regions,ā he says. āBut the mindset doesnāt change; you stay curious, keep solving problems, and support the business the best you can.ā
That creative, problem-solving approach, he says, traces straight back to Meadville. ĆŪĢŅappās emphasis on writing and critical thinking, sharpened through his Senior Comprehensive Project, still gives him an edge. āThe Senior Comp process taught me how to write clearly and persuasively,ā he says. āThatās a competitive advantage anywhere you work.ā
Even amid board meetings and international travel, Getteās ĆŪĢŅapp circle remains strong. He recently caught up with his college roommate, Kevin Rauch ā94, over dinner in Hershey. A trip to Stockholm included a meal with Mike Lenahan ā94 and Kristi Evans Lenahan ā95, and he still runs into Michelle Puig-Antich Jegasothy ā94, Dave Hornyak ā95, and Mike Kuder ā97 around Pittsburgh, Gette says.
His advice for current Gators dreaming big, whether itās in law, business, or anything else, is simple: be confident.
ĆŪĢŅapp gives you all the tools you need,ā Gette says. āIf you can write well, think creatively, and solve problems, youāll be ready for whatever comes next.
From his days playing basketball and tennis for the Gators to the global headquarters of PPG, Getteās story is proof that an ĆŪĢŅapp education doesnāt just open doors, it helps you walk through them with purpose.