Tonya Leon as new CEO
Tonya Leon has been hired as the Chief Executive Officer for Red River Human Services Foundation as of January 26, 2026.
When it comes to advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Tonya Leon has truly taken the road less traveled. Having grown up alongside a family member with IDD, she entered the field at just sixteen years old as a direct care worker. Over the years, Tonya has advanced through every level of the IDD care system, holding roles such as Home Manager, Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional, Quality Assurance Specialist, Program Director, Regional Director, Business Area Executive, and ultimately, Chief Executive Officer.
Along her journey, Tonya has led large diverse teams of Executives, Clinicians, Directors, Residential Coordinators and direct care staff as they cared for thousands of clients dealing with the challenges of intellectual, traumatic, or ischemic brain conditions. Tonya has excelled outside her main career field while working with other vulnerable populations such as underserved inner city ids, disadvantaged Appalachian communities, and individuals with substance use disorders. Tonya's most important belief is to lead by example. She prides herself on developing highly effective teams while creating and promoting a positive organizational culture. Tonya's lief mission is to provider he clients, regardless of diagnosis, with the best opportunity to attain their highest level of independence possible and to live fulfilling lives. Throughout her 25+ years of experience, Tonya has earned a reputation of being a fierce clients' advocate (playfully dubbed "protector of the weak" by her peers).
As a businesswoman, Tonya has repeatedly demonstrated her exceptional business acumen, developed across years of increasingly demanding executive-level experiences, by providing value to her organizations and by being responsible for the P&L of multi-million-dollar companies and multi-state agencies, in both the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors. Additionally, she has a proven ability to expand markets, create new sources of revenue, forging external collaborations, grant-writing and management, and conduct business acquisitions.
Likewise, Tonya is a regulatory compliance guru and a servant leader that lives for tough challenges. She loves turning around under-performing organizations, especially when others could not do it. Her strong background in quality improvement and implementing new processes, combined with her systems knowledge and experiences, give her an advantage in understanding the needs and challenges of the organization and allow her to pinpoint the root causes of failure.
Tonya is a visionary leader with an eye for innovation, marketing, and growth. She exhibits exceptional servant leadership skills, which come naturally, as she has worked at, and understands the needs and challenges of all echelons of the IDD field. Additionally, her can-do attitude, infectious energy and great sense of humor give her an advantage when communicating with donors, regulators, guardians and counterparts. She is similarly well-versed in tracking the political pulse and engaging legislators on issues important to the industry.
Tonya has two master's degrees, one in Business Administration and the other in Health Administration and Leadership from the School of Business, Technology and Health Care Administration at Capella University. She also has a bachelor's degree in health care administration and leadership, and an associate's degree concentrated in Criminal Justice and Social Work. Additionally, Tonya has worked as a consultant for start-ups and existing businesses in the fields of intellectual disabilities, substance use disorders, and behavioral health. Finally, Tonya is active in the community, serving as the Board President and as Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee for My Autism Connection, a Florida non-profit organization providing support to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
On a personal note, Tonya is a Certified Police Officer for the state of Ohio where she was born and raised. She is a veteran of the U.S. Army where she served as a Supply Specialist. She lives with her husband, a veterinarian and Air Force veteran, and has three young and active children, two boys ages 16 and 13, and a 10 year old girl.