Anthony Mason

Anthony "Tony" Mason is a visionary leader with a passion for service. He has dedicated the majority of his career to initiatives designed to enhance the quality of life for Indianapolis residents.

During his tenure as the president and CEO of the Indianapolis Urban League (IUL), it has become a Center for Working Families, expanded the Project Ready College and Career Readiness Program, increased health and wellness services, established an agency endowment fund, supported the engagement of young professionals in leadership and service through The Exchange at IUL, secured a National Urban League Entrepreneurship Center designation, and successfully hosted the 2019 National Urban League Annual Conference, which featured President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The Indianapolis Urban League has been recognized for its initiatives and impact by the National Urban League, the United Way of Central Indiana, and the Indianapolis Recorder's Indiana Minority Business Magazine.

Prior to his tenure with the IUL, Mason served as the senior vice president of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee and was responsible for providing administrative oversight and staff support for the Near Eastside Legacy Project and various community outreach efforts, including neighborhood redevelopment, educational programs, environmental initiatives, cultural arts projects, and human impact initiatives. More than 200,000 Indiana residents participated in various Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee and NFL initiatives.

Before joining the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee staff, Mason served as the executive director of the Circle City Classic for eight years, staging one of the nation's largest Black college football events. Under his leadership, the annual Classic weekend consistently attracted more than 100,000 attendees annually generating an estimated economic impact of nearly $15 million for the city of Indianapolis. Additionally, the Classic awarded nearly $100,000 annually in scholarships through the Circle City Classic Scholarship Program and supported Indianapolis Black Alumni Council's Annual Fair, which generated more than $2 million annually in educational assistance to Indianapolis area students through its partnerships with HBCUs.

Earlier in his career, Mason held management and leadership positions with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Amateur Athletic Union, Indiana Black Expo, Miami University of Ohio, and Wichita State University.

Mason has received several awards including the Indianapolis Business Journal's Forty Under 40 Award, the Center for Leadership Development's Achievement in Business Award, the Indiana Sports Corporation's Pathfinder - Rev. Charles Williams Award, McDonald's Black History Maker of Today Award, the Black Coaches and Administrators' Images of Excellence Award, Freetown Village's Living History Museum's Citizenship Certificate, and the NAACP Outstanding Achievement Award.

Currently, Mason is a member of the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership's board of directors, and he serves on steering or advisory committees with the United Way of Central Indiana, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, the Race and Cultural Relations Leadership Network, the African American Coalition of Indianapolis, Regions Bank Community Development Corporation, the Indiana Sports Corporation, the Corporate and Community Partnership for Racial Equity, and the Business Equity for Indy Initiative.

Mason earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.