Tonya Lamia, 36

By Mary Erpenbach

Tonya Lamia calls herself a people person, but a more accurate description would have to include her extraordinary talent as a connector of people, projects and pocketbooks. Lamia is not necessarily one of Rockford’s most famous citizens, but she is without a doubt one of the most widely known.

Lamia’s work as vice president of investor relations for the Rockford Area Economic Development Council keeps her finger on the pulse of the Rockford region’s civic and business communities. It also allows her to fuse two lifelong passions – a love for her hometown and a zeal for engaging people in the work of economic development.

“I love my community and whatever I do, I want to be doing it because I’m helping to make it better,” she said. “And we all need to do our part. “We can’t do it alone.”

Lamia earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northern Illinois University. As soon as she was finished, she returned home and plunged into positions that capitalized on her natural networking ability, including promotional stints with RadioWorks and Centre Events.

Today Lamia has led RAEDC through a stabilizing shift from membership- to investor-based fundraising, guided the council’s five-year strategic plan into place, and nearly doubled its annual budget. She serves on a host of boards and committees, including Attracting and Retaining Talent to the Rockford Area and River District Association.

And in her spare time she runs Lamia Consulting, which specializes in – what else? – special events planning.