President, R.A. Abdoo & Co. LLC
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2009
Citation:
Throughout your life, you have distinguished yourself as a respected corporate leader, a strong advocate of environmental responsibility, a pillar in the Lebanese community and a tireless supporter of numerous civic, educational and charitable causes. With a master's degree in economics from the University of Detroit and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Dayton, you joined Wisconsin Energy Corporation in 1975. Through the years, you steadily rose through the ranks as a result of your bold, visionary and compassionate leadership. In 1991, you were elected chairman, president and chief executive officer, and served in this capacity until your retirement in 2004. Your 29-year career with Wisconsin Energy Corporation was marked with numerous accomplishments, including the corporation's growth into a Fortune 500 company and the development of the company's Power the Future plan to meet the energy needs of southeastern Wisconsin. With a deep commitment to community service, you expanded your company's charitable foundation activities to support programs that enriched the lives of thousands of Wisconsin residents. Your personal dedication to quality education had widespread results - from the improvement of local schools to the founding of a national organization that provided educational scholarships. Well-respected by your peers, you have been active in many business and professional associations, serving as a board member of the American Gas Association, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the corporate boards of AK Steel Corp., Marshall & Ilsey Corp., and Sensient Technologies Corp. As a prominent leader in the Arab-American community and advocate for stronger relations between the United States and the Middle East, you received the prestigious Arab American of the Year Award in 2006 from the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services. You were also awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for your humanitarian contributions to the Lebanese population, as well as to society overall. In recognition of your outstanding business leadership, your passion and dedication to community service and your role model as an Arab American, the University of Detroit Mercy is proud to present you with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Commencement, University of Detroit Mercy, May 9, 2009.