President and CEO
Urban League of Greater Madison | Madison
Ruben Anthony has led the Urban League of Greater Madison since 2015. Under his leadership, the organization increased its job placements by 39% and has made more than 1,400 placements to date.
He also spearheaded the creation of the Black Business Hub, a gathering place for Black businesses in Villager Mall on the city’s south side, where the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Summit Credit Union and the Black Chamber of Commerce have all signed on as tenants. Anthony has led the $20 million fundraising effort to support the project.
Prior to joining the Urban League, Anthony worked for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for 19 years, where he started as a first line supervisor and eventually became deputy secretary and chief operations officer. As deputy secretary, he managed a $3.25 billion budget.
Anthony is credited as the architect of the “Wisconsin Model” for increasing disadvantaged business enterprise participation and participated in a national tour with the Federal Highway Administration to share the model with other states. Anthony has also served as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise capacity-building adviser to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Dulles Airport in Washington D.C.
Education: Bachelor’s, Marquette University; master’s Jackson State University; master’s University of Wisconsin-Madison; doctorate, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Nonprofits and Education
President and CEO
Urban League of Greater Madison | Madison
Transportation management leader Ruben Anthony Jr. was named president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Greater Madison in 2015.
During his tenure, the Urban League has increased job placements by nearly 40% and has made about 1,400 placements to date.
The organization is currently building the Black Business Hub, a development that will include offices, storefronts, a coworking space and a shared commercial kitchen, on the south side of Madison. This fall, the organization received a $2.9 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest single private donation in its 55-year history.
Anthony founded RowJAC Consulting, a management and planning firm that specializes in civil rights in government contracting, in 2013. He previously served as the interim director of Milwaukee County’s Community Business Development program, which is responsible for enforcing compliance in procurement and contracting.
Anthony has also served as an advisor to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C.
He worked for nearly 20 years with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, ending his career as deputy secretary, overseeing 3,600 employees and a budget of more than $3.25 billion.
Anthony has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a board member of the Madison Symphony and deacon at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
Education: Bachelor’s, Marquette University; master’s in art, Jackson State University; master’s in science, UW-Madison; doctorate in Urban Studies, UW-Milwaukee.
