ASU Alumni Association honors Sun Devil leaders with 2018 Homecoming Awards

The ASU Alumni Association will honor Sun Devil leadership during the upcoming Nov. 3 Homecoming game, which will pit Arizona State University against the University of Utah.

The Alumni Association will recognize George Dean, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Urban League, with its Alumni Service Award, and Ray Schey, publisher of the Phoenix Business Journal, with its Alumni Appreciation Award.

Ryan Abbott, the 2017–18 chair of the organization’s board of directors and National Alumni Council, also will be honored for his service to the organization.

Alumni Service Award: George Dean 

Dean, ’70 BS, is president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Urban League, an organization where he has served in various capacities for more than 26 years. Under his leadership, GPUL has focused on advocacy for issues affecting the African-American and minority community related to education, training, job placement and economic development.

In addition to his work at GPUL, he serves as chair of the board of directors of ASU Preparatory Academy, is a member of ASU President Michael M. Crow’s Community Council and serves on the board of the Center for the Future of Arizona.

He previously has served on the Dean’s Councils for three ASU colleges: the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions; Barrett, The Honors College and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.

Alumni Appreciation Award: Ray Schey

Schey is the publisher of the Phoenix Business Journal, a weekly business publication serving the Phoenix metro area, and is responsible for managing all aspects of the operation.

Schey is being recognized for his support of ASU through his service on the Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees; support for ASU’s Founders’ Day awards program; continued partnership on Sun Devil 100, which honors ASU alumni entrepreneurs and innovators; support for the W. P. Carey School of Business’ Economic Club of Phoenix series and the Master of Real Estate Development Monopoly event; support for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering’s innovation event; partnerships with the ASU Foundation and internships for ASU students.

Prior to his role in Phoenix, he served as director of advertising at the Milwaukee Business Journal and the Rochester (New York) Business Journal. Schey has been involved in numerous community and charitable organizations in his career and is currently a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership and serves on the boards of the Arizona Tech Council, Visit Phoenix, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation Board and Arizona Food Marketing Alliance.

Past President’s Award: Ryan Abbott 

Abbott, ’01 BS and ’08 MBA, is senior vice president and southwest district manager at Sundt Construction, Inc. He has played a key role in many notable ASU construction projects, including Lattie F. Coor Hall, the Interdisciplinary Science & Technology Building 4, The Biodesign Institute, the Downtown Phoenix Sun Devil Fitness Center and most recently the reinvention of Sun Devil Stadium.

He began his career at Sundt more than 17 years ago as a field engineer, working his way through every level of project management. Abbott earned his bachelor’s degree from the Del E. Webb School of Construction in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and his MBA from the W. P. Carey School of Business.

Prior to serving on the ASU Alumni Association board, Abbott was a member of the organization’s National Alumni Council and Arizona State Young Alumni Council. He also has served as chair of the Founders’ Day Committee responsible for all aspects of this university signature event.  He also serves on the boards of the Valley of the Sun YMCA and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.

More: ASU Alumni Association’s celebration of Homecoming Week