Tonya O. Edwards is the Associate Director of Engagement for Texas at Benefits Data Trust (BDT). In her role, Tonya is responsible for launching the inaugural Benefits Navigation Ecosystem initiative in Dallas. By engaging with residents, government, and community groups, Tonya cultivates relationships between key stakeholders with the aim of effectively communicating needs to lay the groundwork for building a more sustainable, equitable, and impactful benefits system for the city of Dallas.  

Tonya is an operations and business leader with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and organizations envision and achieve their goals. Prior to her role at BDT, she held leadership positions with YPO, ResCare Workforce Services, and Right Management. Tonya is deeply committed to serving others. She is passionate about listening to and anticipating their needs, and developing innovative solutions that don’t simply troubleshoot complications but proactively get to the real root of the problem.  

Tonya holds a B.S. in merchandising from Texas Tech University and a SPHR Certification from the HR Certification Institute. She has been an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association and the American Heart Association, and is an advocate for the awareness of heart disease in women. Tonya and her husband LeMonte have been married for more than 30 years and have two adult children, a son, Jourdain (daughter-in-love Caroline) and daughter, Peyton. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, collecting art, playing board games, and being in the company of the family’s German Shepherd, Charlie.