Tonya Fourte’-Lyles

Assistant Director, Supplier Diversity

Tonya Fourte’-Lyles serves as the Assistant Director of Supplier Diversity, bringing a wealth of experience in performance and project management, compliance and vendor management, and financial analysis. With a strong academic background, she holds a Master's degree in Clinical Professional Psychology from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Chicago. Additionally, she has completed corporate project management training, further enhancing her ability to lead and execute high-level initiatives.

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Throughout her career, Tonya has demonstrated a remarkable capacity for creating successful outcomes, particularly in diversity programs. She was instrumental in significantly increasing her organization’s investment in diversity spend, aligning with a CEO-sponsored initiative that led to a 27,000 percent increase over just 2.5 years. Tonya also managed a diverse supply chain comprising more than 200 suppliers, contributing to the long-term success of the program. Her expertise extends to compliance, as she doubled EEO and residency shortfall collections to $1.6 million for the City of Chicago in just one year. In addition, she managed projects for a regional sales channel program that generated an impressive $65 million in revenue.

Outside of her professional achievements, Tonya has held leadership positions on various boards and chambers of commerce. She is also an entrepreneur, owning a small business enterprise. Her personal passions include organizing annual backyard soirées with unique ethnic food themes, showcasing her creativity and cultural appreciation.

Tonya is driven by her mission to provide training and development for individuals in underserved populations. She lives by the mantra, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans,” a quote by John Lennon that reflects her adaptable and forward-thinking approach to both life and work.