JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 27, 2023 – Tonya Lyons, an office executive with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Environmental Quality, Southeast Regional Office, has been selected as the department’s 2023 Team Member of the Year. Lyons was selected for her service to the department and for her efforts to organize a health and wellness fair for state team members in the Poplar Bluff area.
Earlier this year, Lyons collaborated across state agencies to organize and host a day-long health and wellness fair for all state team members in the Poplar Bluff area. The event hosted a variety of health-related services that team members can access as part of their state benefits package. She researched which agencies had offices in the area and ensured they all were invited to the event.
Lyons arranged for vision screenings and for the local health department to provide blood pressure readings. She also coordinated food trucks so that attendees would have lunch options and arranged for door prize giveaways. The event was a success, with many participants receiving valuable information about their health benefits and area wellness resources.
“Tonya went above and beyond her job duties in planning this event,” said Bobbie Clark, an administrative support assistant, who nominated Lyons for the award. “Aside from her usual duties, such as monitoring the regional office’s budget to make sure we are spending money wisely, she is always ready for a challenge and is the first to volunteer for projects like these.”
Lyons is known to proactively support the team at the Southeast Regional Office while modeling the department’s values of stewardship, integrity, collaboration, innovation and respect. She also received the 2023 Administrative Assistant of the Year award and serves as an department informal influencer, a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management team and represents the department as a MO Appreciation Ambassador as part of Governor Parson’s team member appreciation initiative.
Lyons joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in April 2018 and resides in Poplar Bluff.