Alumni Association to recognize trio of exceptional leaders during ASU Homecoming game

ASU alum Vada Manager poses with a woman in front of a wall with the words "ASU Alumni."

A renowned strategist and businessman, Vada Manager is this year’s recipient of the Alumni Service Award for his continuous service that has been felt far and wide across the state. Photo courtesy the ASU Alumni Association

By Griffin Fabits |
October 25, 2023

The Arizona State University Alumni Association will honor a trio of exceptional alumni leaders during the Homecoming Parade and the Sun Devils’ football game against the Washington State Cougars on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Outstanding and innovative members of the community, these leaders have offered their time, leadership and expertise to help ASU thrive and maintain its vision as the New American University.

Vada Manager, ‘83 BS, is this year’s recipient of the Alumni Service Award, which recognizes distinguished and extraordinary service to ASU and the Alumni Association by an alumnus.

A renowned strategist and businessman, Manager is a premier global business and C-suite strategist specializing in sport and product brand marketing, mergers and acquisitions, crisis management, litigation communication and issues management.

Prior to founding Manager Global Holdings LLC in 2009, he was the senior director of global issues management for Nike, where he oversaw labor practices and global sourcing procedures, marketing communication and crisis management for athletes, product recalls and corporate issues. During a highly successful 12-year tenure, he served on the launch team of nike.com and was the senior crisis and issues strategist on events such as the Olympics, the World Cup and company response after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Manager’s service has been felt far and wide across the state. He has served as both an ASU Trustee and an Alumni Association Council member and was on the Arizona Board of Regents while still an undergraduate student.

Alongside Manager, Gregg Brewster, ‘83 BA, has been named this year’s recipient of the Past Chair’s Award for his service as ASU Alumni Board of Directors chair during fiscal year 2022–23.

Man wearing graduation regalia standing behind a lectern and speaking into a microphone.

This year's recipient of the Past Chair’s Award is Gregg Brewster, whose service as ASU Alumni Board of Directors chair during fiscal year 2022–23 helped provide a number of firsts for the Alumni Association. Photo courtesy the ASU Alumni Association

Brewster’s tenure as chair provided a number of firsts for the Alumni Association. Under his leadership, over 150 ASU alumni were announced as members of the Sun Devil 100 Class of 2023, an annual business awards program that recognizes the fastest-growing alumni-owned or -led organizations. The diverse mix of organizations in this class had a combined total revenue of $6.16 billion for the 2021 reporting year, employed nearly 114,000 full-time staff members and had headquarters in 15 states.

He aided in developing a record-breaking Founders’ Day event in spring 2023 and also recognized the history of Sun Devil Football and the 40th anniversary of the 1982–83 Fiesta Bowl champions with the Legends Luncheon last fall.

Under Brewster’s tutelage, the ASU Alumni Association’s initiative to engage alumni educators and provide valuable resources — the Sun Devil Teacher Packs — reached all 50 states and extended globally to eight countries. More than 3,900 packs went to alums, for their K–12 classrooms. The program provides an opportunity for young students to learn about the college experience, promotes Sun Devil pride and tradition, and fosters lifelong learning for students at all levels.

The Alumni Association has also awarded photographer Tim Trumble with the Alumni Appreciation Award, which is presented to a community member who is not a graduate of Arizona State University but through their contributions has enhanced the stature and success of ASU and the Alumni Association.

People standing next to an old car making the ASU pitchfork symbol.

An award-winning professional photographer, Tim Trumble (far left), is this year's recipient of the Alumni Appreciation Award, which is presented to a community member who is not a graduate of Arizona State University but through their contributions has enhanced the stature and success of ASU and the Alumni Association. Photo courtesy the ASU Alumni Association

An award-winning professional photographer with a career spanning over 25 years, Trumble previously served as senior staff photographer for ASU. Among the many Sun Devil events Trumble has photographed, he has also covered the 2004 U.S. presidential debate, the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl, ASU Gammage, the National Broadway Tour and more.

His first assignment on the job at ASU came on Nov. 9, 1996, during the Sun Devils’ Homecoming football game against the California Golden Bears.

Award recognition will commence during the Homecoming Parade and Block Party, which kicks off at 1 p.m. in front of the Fulton building and Old Main on University Drive, followed by the Homecoming Block Party. University Drive will be closed off from College Avenue to McAllister Avenue.

Learn more about ASU Alumni Association’s celebration of Homecoming week.