Helios Education Foundation Announces Election of Vada O. Manager to Its Board of Directors

Helios Education Foundation announced today the expansion of its Board of Directors with the election of Vada O. Manager, an internationally recognized global business and brand strategist. With the addition of Manager, the Foundation’s Board of Directors now consists of 10 members, who each possess a strong passion for education and the visionary belief that every individual in Arizona and Florida should have the opportunity to pursue and complete a postsecondary education.

Helios Education Foundation Elects Vada O. Manager to Its Board of Directors (Photo: Business Wire)

The Foundation’s endowment is approaching $700 million, and since 2004 the organization has invested over $155 million in strategic education initiatives in Arizona and Florida that have provided over 8,000 college scholarships, supported the college-going aspirations of more than 135,000 students and trained over 16,000 educators.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Vada’s talent, strategic business expertise and global experience on Helios’ Board of Directors, and we look forward to the wealth of knowledge he will contribute to the work of the Foundation,” said Helios’ Founding Chairman Vince Roig. “But most importantly, Vada brings an incredible amount of passion to this work of ensuring that every student achieves a postsecondary education, and it’s that passion that endures and will ensure that Helios continues to change lives through education in perpetuity.”

Manager began his career at the age of 20 as an appointed member of the Arizona Board of Regents while still attending Arizona State University. Before forming the Manager Global Consulting Group in 2009, Manager served as Senior Director of Global Issues Management for NIKE, Inc., with direct and indirect management responsibilities for NIKE’s global sourcing procedures, brand/marketing communications, litigation support, and athlete, product and corporate issue management.

Manager also provided consultation to several of the company's key initiatives for online commerce and new business acquisitions, such as the Starter and Converse brands. During his 12-year tenure, NIKE’s revenues grew from $6 billion to $18 billion.

“It will be a great honor to work alongside the Helios team in assisting aspiring students in reaching their full human potential by achieving a postsecondary education,” said Manager. “In my work with business and community leaders across the world, educational preparedness is a consistent topic of discussion and necessary investment.”

Prior to joining NIKE in 1997, Manager was a global executive at Levi Strauss & Co.’s headquarters in San Francisco. He has also served as Vice President of the Washington, D.C.-based firm Powell Tate, where he led a team to South Africa to assist in consulting with the newly elected administration of the late President Nelson Mandela. Manager holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University (Tempe, Arizona) and is an inductee in its Hall of Fame (College of Liberal Arts, 2000). Manager also performed post-graduate (non-degree) study at the London School of Economics. Manager’s combined expertise and education led to his election to Fortune 500 global specialty chemical company Ashland Inc. (NYSE-ASH) board of directors, and to serve on the International Advisory Council of APCO Worldwide in Washington D.C.

“As Helios celebrates its 10-year anniversary, we are truly proud of the impact our education programs and partners have made in Arizona and Florida,” said Helios’ President and CEO Paul Luna. “But as we look forward to the next 10 years and beyond, we are excited to have a visionary Board of Directors guiding this organization and, with the addition of Vada Manager and his expertise, we’re even more excited about the future of Helios and our education reform strategy across both states.”

Manager joins nine other members of Helios’ Board who provide strategic direction and oversight of the Foundation’s close to $700 million endowment. Other board members include: Vince Roig, Founding Chairman; Paul J. Luna, President and CEO; Don Aripoli, Emeritus Vice President for Student Affairs at Missouri State University; Dr. Ioanna Morfessis, business and economic development executive and CEO of IO.INC; Jane Roig, former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Student Services Corporation; Tom Herndon, former Executive Director of the Florida State Board of Administration and Chief of Staff to two Florida Governors; Mark Fernandez, Senior Vice President/Chief Sales Officer for the MLB Tampa Bay Rays; Maria Sastre, President and Chief Operating Officer for Signature Flight Support; and Steven Wheeler, retired Executive Vice President of Customer Service and Regulation for Arizona Public Service Company (APS).

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education by advancing the academic preparedness of all students and fostering a high-expectation, college-going culture in both states. The Foundation focuses its investments across the education continuum in three key impact areas: Early Grade Success, College and Career Readiness, and Postsecondary Completion.

As an engaged foundation embedded in communities across both states, the Foundation is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial resources to better prepare students for college and career, and to compete successfully in a globally competitive economy. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.helios.org.

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