Jim Rouse, the founder of the Rouse Company, often said the goal of developing Columbia, Maryland, was to create “not a perfect place, just a better place for people to live, work, play and grow.”

Columbia, Maryland proudly welcomed its first resident in 1967. Today, more than 125,000 people live, and more than 150,000 work in the most successful large-scale, new town, planned community in the United States. To this day, it continues to evolve, mature and grow with all the people it touches and is recognized as the standard by which all other planned communities (by Rouse and others) are guided by in their stated goals and objectives.

The philosophy Jim Rouse defined as Columbia’s objective was the same principle that guided The Rouse Company in all the retail, office, and new community’s projects it developed or owned in 22 states and Canada until its sale in 2004.

That humble yet bold philosophy is what guided Al Scavo for 33 years, and Duke Kassolis for more than 25 years, working together at increasingly more important positions at The Rouse Company, culminating in each becoming Executive Vice President and head of the two major divisions as well as 2 of the 5-member Executive Committee until its sale in 2004 for $13.2 Billion.

As colleagues and friends, they wanted to continue to work together after Rouse and created a new organization in 2004 to develop land and commercial real estate for their respective family entities.

With that accumulated knowledge and experience came the recognition that outstanding real estate selection and development was a fundamental foundation of successful retail service businesses. As such, Al and Duke decided to broaden the organization’s scope to focus not only on real estate development but also basic service industries which have the potential for disruption and improvement from leading processes and technology.

Of paramount importance Al and Duke, mindful of their careers, the good fortune for the opportunities each have had, and the realization of the benefits to them and their families, from the beginning wanted to create an environment where others could realize their American dream through hard work and a continuing desire to grow and contribute.

The term entrepreneurial philanthropy has been used to describe a core principle of everything Oxford Capital Partners and its operating companies focus on creating. Today the most important asset of our companies is a wide range of talented, focused, quality people who develop, manage, and grow our companies. Each brings different skill sets. Some started out at entry level positions and have grown into talented, mature important contributors to everything we do. Others bring seasoned skills in business and hospitality management, legal and tax, finance, accounting, and human resources. In bringing these talented, committed people from many backgrounds we have established an enterprise platform which has the potential to continue to grow to a yet to be defined level. A constant focus is for each of these team members to have the opportunity to grow to their full potential and enjoy meaningful financial rewards toward the realization of their goals and aspirations.

Consistently in talking to friends, acquaintances, and people who understand the challenge of creating organizational culture, the comment we hear repeated when referring to an experience in one of our locations is ‘how do you find such nice people’? Those comments reflect the values, character and culture created by people that they never see. It is the most gratifying comment we can hear.

Al and Duke have spent a lifetime gaining experience, values, knowledge and inspiration, and they want to continue to use those gifts to benefit their families, those with whom they have the privilege to work, and to the communities our companies and our people serve.