Next Up: A Lifetime of Service
Rob Leinberger was just getting started with his career in animal care, control, and welfare, when Brightpoint gave him the skills he needed to succeed. Over 30 years later, he’s thriving as a leader in his field.
A 34-year career in animal care, control, and welfare has culminated with Rob Leinberger’s current role: Manager at Prince George County Animal Services and Adoption Center.
“My position practically landed in my lap,” Rob said. “I was surprised and happy to get it.”
Though he was surprised to earn this managerial role, Rob had been working toward it since his time at Brightpoint in the early 1990s, when he majored in police science.
“Brightpoint laid the foundation for me,” Rob said.
Here’s how Brightpoint helped him achieve lasting career success:
Courses That Translate to On-the-Job Skills
Rob credits sociology and psychology classes at Brightpoint with enhancing his communication skills early on in his career.
“It was fascinating to learn how to better interact with people,” Rob said. “And learning to work well with others improved my on-the-job performance.”
One professor in particular made a big impact on Rob.
“Mr. Huey Singleton was the program head of police science at the time,” Rob said. “I enjoyed his real-life examples and down-to-earth style of instruction.”
Brightpoint laid the foundation for me.
Connections for Real-World Career Prep
The late Professor Singleton, who had been a member of the Richmond City Police Force before he joined the Brightpoint faculty, helped Rob land an internship with the Colonial Heights Police Department.
“I assisted at the Emergency Communications Center and the Records section of the Police Department,” Rob said. “I also went on ride-a-longs with various police officers. They were an amazing organization to work with.”
That internship helped Rob realize what he wanted from a career: to serve both people and animals in need. He took those real-world experiences, and the skills he had been learning from his college courses, and earned himself a job as an animal control officer at Chesterfield County Animal Services.
“The college helped me gain my first leadership role and excel in it,” Rob said.
Short-Term Degree, Long-Term Success
Since earning his degree, Rob has steadily advanced in his career, from acting as the Deputy Director at Richmond Animal Care & Control to serving on the board of directors for the Virginia Animal Control Association and National Animal Care & Control Association. He was even featured as one of WTVR’s “Heroes Among Us” in 2021, which highlighted his animal rescue efforts in Central Virginia.
“I love my career because I have been able to continuously learn,” Rob said. “That continuous learning has allowed me to grow and achieve so much, and also helped me to help people and animals these past three decades.”
After graduating from Brightpoint in 1994, Rob went on to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies. But he still feels proudest of his first college diploma.
“My best academic achievement was earning a degree from Brightpoint,” Rob said.