Tonya Craft has been appointed as the new Regional Executive of the American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region, according to an April 2 announcement. The region serves 6.4 million people across 47 counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, including Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton. Craft succeeds Stephanie Byrd, who retired in December after nearly eight years in the role.
Craft brings more than 24 years of experience with the Red Cross to her new position. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Service Delivery for Training Services—a division that provides lifesaving courses such as CPR & AED, First Aid, and Lifeguarding Water Safety. In this capacity, she supported over 400,000 enrollees annually across Workplace Safety, Healthcare, and Aquatics programs and managed a staff and contractor network exceeding 250 individuals.
Prior to her role in Training Services, Craft held several leadership positions within the organization including roles in Disaster Services and Volunteer Resources as well as serving as a local Executive Director. These roles involved building community relationships, managing disaster operations, and leading volunteer teams.
Mike Thome, Divisional Vice President of the American Red Cross Central Atlantic Division said: "Her extensive leadership experience, strategic insight, and passion for the Red Cross mission will help her support the talented CSOR team to continued success."
"I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to step into this role, and I am passionate about the mission and look forward to supporting our volunteers, serving our community and advancing the important work of the Red Cross," Craft said.
Craft is based out of Columbus but will travel throughout the region visiting various offices. The Central & Southern Ohio Region includes chapters such as East Central Ohio located at 143 S. 30th Street Newark. More information can be found on the official roster page.
