But back in the early 1990s, when Amendola was nearing graduation and the Lender School of Business Center was nearing completion, Professor Vincent Driscoll had a different assignment for his promising student.

“Amendola,” growled Driscoll, who was chair of the finance department in those days. “Meet me at the Alumni House Thursday at 2 — and wear your suit.”

The invitation was as cryptic as it was compulsory. Amendola just had one question: “Why?”

“Because I need somebody to go,” Driscoll explained, “and you won’t be an issue.”

And so, Thursday came and Amendola showed up right on time in his suit. A few weeks later, Amendola’s photo and a quote appeared in a Quinnipiac marketing brochure to promote the new building.

“I still have a copy of that brochure. I remember when they staged the photo shoot that day, someone had a briefcase open with a yellow legal pad and a pen inside,” Amendola said. “I already knew that I was going to come back the next year for the dedication of the building. I wanted to be there. I had to be there.

“So fast-forward to today. This new School of Business is unbelievable, but it should be unbelievable,” he said. “Our history and our roots at Quinnipiac are in business.”

Indeed they are, all the way back to 1929 with the Connecticut College of Commerce.

For Amendola, this full-circle moment — from finance student and managing partner of Wooster Square Advisors to philanthropist, GAME Forum Hall of Fame inductee, chair of the $160 million “For the Ambitious” campaign, member of the Board of Trustees and chair of its investment committee — it all rode upon a photo shoot and a professor who saw so much more.

Amendola is a part of Quinnipiac as much as it’s a part of him, you see.

“Brett excels at everything he chooses to do," said President Judy Olian. "His lifelong devotion to Quinnipiac from serving as Alumni President, to Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee, to now significant donor — he’s a lifelong Bobcat.  He’s a friend and a person who’s constantly thinking: How can I assist Quinnipiac? What’s relevant to Quinnipiac? What can I help them learn? Who do they need to know? We're way stronger because of Brett."

The GAME of life ... and business

With Amendola, the building never stops at Quinnipiac, whether he’s building consensus, momentum or relationships.

Last week at GAME Forum XIV in New York, Amendola conducted a fireside chat with Sebastien Page, CFA and head of global multi-asset and chief investment officer at T. Rowe Price. They discussed Page’s new book, “The Psychology of Leadership,” during a dynamic, illuminating interview.

For many of the 1,600 students attending GAME Forum, the largest student-run financial conference in the world, the conversation offered an unvarnished glimpse into becoming an intuitive, interpretive leader.

For Amendola, a frequent presenter and contributor at GAME, the preparation began much earlier, of course. As he read Page’s book, Amendola took down copious notes — some as observations, others as talking points for the fireside chat.

If nothing else, you must understand this about Amendola — preparation is paramount in his world. In fact, it’s non-negotiable. It’s the key to his longevity and success in business.

“If there's something that’s kept me in business as I enter my 34th year, it’s preparation,” said Amendola, who turned 56 the day before interviewing Page. “I’ve succeeded by being more prepared than the other person. It’s that simple — and that hard.”

And yet, the best part of GAME took place just a few hours before Amendola’s fireside chat. That’s when his son, Alex, an MBA candidate at Quinnipiac, introduced the GAME panel for the keynote discussion, “Outlook for the U.S. and Global Economy in 2025.”

Amendola’s LinkedIn post spoke for itself: “So proud of Alexander Amendola! Finishing his MBA at Quinnipiac University School of Business and participating in the Quinnipiac GAME Forum.”

Olivia Amendola ’21, MBA ’22, also visited GAME last week to see her father and brother. That night, after the sessions were over, the three of them went out to dinner. Milestones are made to be celebrated, after all.

It wasn’t that long ago — just a few months back, actually — when Olivia Amendola, a GAME veteran herself, was promoted to team lead at Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC, in nearby Jersey City, New Jersey.

GAME Forum is special that way. It’s always been a conduit to connections and careers.

“You need to be in the room at GAME. You need to be a sponge. You need to listen,” Brett Amendola said. “You need to use the power of networking and LinkedIn because if you’re trying to get into one of those (financial) institutions, it's not necessarily easy.”

Better yet, Amendola suggested, “Can you find one of those people and walk with them to get their cab? Can you send them a message on LinkedIn and say you saw them at GAME?

“A lot of it is, who do you know, but you don’t have to settle for just one strategy. Which one works best for you?” Amendola said. “The correct answer is, all of the above. It's all of the above.”

Nick Wormley, vice president for development and alumni affairs, is grateful for everything Amendola has done for Quinnipiac, its students and GAME.

“From his days as a Quinnipiac student, to his time serving on the Alumni Board, to his thoughtful stewardship as a member of our Board of Trustees, Brett has been a tireless advocate and a dear friend of our institution,” Wormley said.

“We are deeply grateful for his mentorship of students and alumni, his years of volunteer service and his impactful philanthropy,” Wormley added. “This enduring commitment to Quinnipiac and its mission is also reflected as the chair of our comprehensive campaign, ‘For the Ambitious.’ Thank you, Brett, for helping us build the University of the Future in so many ways.”

A foundation for the future

As a boy growing up on the Connecticut shoreline, Amendola often listened to his father’s work tapes. They were the soundtrack to becoming a “versatile salesperson,” he recalled, a step-by-step guide for relating to different types of people.

“My father was the first one to go to college in my family. In fact, I still have one set of those tapes, but I don’t have anything to play it on anymore,” Amendola said. “I often think about those tapes. I didn’t necessarily think so back then, but looking back now, they helped me realize that learning is important to me and growing is important to me.

“I think that's why I’ve loved hiring Quinnipiac kids and mentoring Quinnipiac kids. I guess it’s probably because I see myself in them,” Amendola said, grinning a bit. “Or vice versa.”

Two of the newest hires at Wooster Square Advisors are Quinnipiac graduates from the Class of 2022. Marko Cohen is the head of client services and a financial advisor, while Nick Ciampanelli is a wealth manager.

“A successful college experience to me is trying and failing,” Amendola said. “Yes, the failures are as important, probably more so than the winning, because you get to figure things out. That was important to me at Quinnipiac, and it's been important to me during my career.”

For Amendola, it’s all about looking to the future. That’s one reason he’s so bullish on Quinnipiac, the new School of Business and the South Quad.

Holly Raider, dean of the School of Business, first met Amendola during her interview process in 2021. Since then, they’ve worked together on several projects.

“He’s such a great friend to education. When we think of time, talent and treasure, Brett gives all of those to Quinnipiac,” Dean Raider said. “From day one, he’s been incredibly available and supportive, and always a source of wise counsel.

“He had a transformational experience at Quinnipiac. You can see it. He’s exemplary in how he’s engaged and gives back,” she added. “He's been a great source of advice as we planned the new building, especially with the setup of the Financial Technology Center.”

Amendola has always embraced the importance of giving back to those who gave him so much. “My philanthropy to the school is important to me,” he said. “I try to support things as either a seed or to drive the next generation."

Next year, Amendola will celebrate his 35th class reunion. Quinnipiac remains the place that gave him more than he could ever imagine.

“A week doesn’t go by where a Quinnipiac student doesn’t reach out to me. It’s refreshing and motivating for me. I like to do it,” Amendola said. “And, by the way, any interaction that I've ever given, I've gotten it back 10 times more.”