Tonya Backward

Tonya Backward has extensive work experience in various roles within the economic development and workforce development fields.

From 2022 to the present, Tonya has been working as a Business Development Manager at Grand River Dam Authority. In this role, they are responsible for building partnerships with new and existing clients, managing and executing proposals in response to RFPs and RFIs, and developing and maintaining customer contracts.

Prior to their current position, Tonya worked at MidAmerica Industrial Park for a total of eight years. From 2018 to 2022, they served as an Economic Development Specialist, working closely with the Executive Director to develop and market the industrial park. Their responsibilities included developing and responding to RFPs and RFIs, as well as lease and sale negotiations for land and facilities. From 2014 to 2018, Tonya held the role of Workforce Development Coordinator at the same organization. In this capacity, they developed and promoted customized workforce development programs and managed the MidAmerica Youth Marketing team in local high schools.

Before joining MidAmerica Industrial Park, Tonya worked at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission for over two decades. As a Workforce Services Specialist III from 1993 to 2014, they administered various labor exchange programs and services to employers and job seekers through local Workforce Development Programs. These programs included Unemployment Insurance, Employment and Training, Career Counseling and Exploration, Federal Trad Act, Federal Bonding Program, Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Career Readiness Certificate Programs/Workkeys, Veteran Services, Economic Research and Analysis, Rapid Response Orientations, and Career Fairs.

Overall, Tonya Backward's work experience demonstrates their expertise and proficiency in business development, economic development, and workforce development.

From 2019 to 2021, Tonya Backward attended the University of Oklahoma, where they studied Economic Development Institute. However, there is no information available regarding their completion of a degree at the university.