Pignanelli is a native Utah resident, growing up in Salt Lake City.
[4] He received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah College of Law.
[2] Before being elected to the Utah House of Representatives, he was a lawyer at the Salt Lake City law firm Gustin, Adams, Kasting & Liapis.
[2] He as also the treasurer of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party and the chairman of the finance committee for the Young Lawyers Section of the Utah State Bar.
[9] He currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Association of Industrial Bankers to champion innovative financial services for Americans by expanding access to credit, guaranteeing consumer choice, and providing unique banking services.