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Duke Cancelmo Is Final Speaker in W&L's Good Life Series

Richard P. “Duke” Cancelmo Jr., a partner with Bridgeway Capital, an investment management company based in Houston, will address the issue of work and the good life as the final speaker in Washington and Lee’s yearlong “Questioning the Good Life” interdisciplinary seminar series. His talk is Thursday, March 28, at 4:30 p.m. in Stackhouse Theater, Elrod Commons.

The title of Cancelmo’s talk is “The Good Life: Can Your Work Life Become Your Life’s Work?” It is open to the public at no charge.

Cancelmo envisions a society operating under the principle that work and the good life are compatible. His talk explores his views on the links between purpose, leadership, service, social well-being and corporate philosophy.

A member of W&L’s Class of 1980, he has more than 30 years of investment industry experience, including five years with Cancelmo Capital and positions with Paine Webber, Rotan Mosle in Houston and Casella Securities on the options floor of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

According to Cancelmo, the mission of Bridgeway Capital is to contribute to the enrichment of the local community and the world by establishing a work environment dedicated to ensuring that workers flourish, rather than a traditional corporate focus on profitability.

Cancelmo believes that “employees prosper, and feel happy and empowered, when they are able to integrate their work life with philanthropy while also being able to participate as full partners in business decision making.”

Half of Bridgeway Capital’s after-tax profits are distributed to charitable organizations each year, with employees staffing the committees that distribute the funds.

Cancelmo holds a B.A. in American history from Washington and Lee. He is an active member of the West U Rotary Club in Houston, is a board member of the Southwest Health Technology Foundation and serves on the Advisory Board of W&L’s Shepherd Poverty Program. In addition, he is an active member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

“Questioning the Good Life” featured six visiting speakers, including Cancelmo, during the 2012-2013 academic year, each of whom is recognized as a leader in their respective disciplines (economics, literature, philosophy, psychology/sociology, neuroscience and business). The speakers have brought their considerable insight and expertise to bear on the topic of happiness.

News Contact:
Julie Cline
News Writer
jcline@wlu.edu
540-458-8954