Tonya McKenzie is the founder of Sand and Shores PR & Leadership Firm and a Los Angeles County Commissioner. Sand & Shores works with civic, nonprofit, law enforcement, and political organizations to help them gain more positive publicity and media attention that they need to grow their businesses, their public reputations and profitability.  

She started her career campaigning and being elected as a Senator at California State University, Northridge (C.S.U.N.), later becoming Associate Executive Director at a YMCA in Northern California.  Tonya currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce, as the Vice-President of Black Public Relations Society – Los Angeles, and appointed to the city’s Emergency Crisis Council in the midst of the Covid crisis.

As an author, Tonya has co-authored the FIT Kids Manual for the Contra Costa Health Services, and published a memoir titled, A Child’s Memories of Cartoons and Murder, addressing  gun violence, PTSD, domestic violence, and child abuse. She can also be found highlighted in the pages of Amazing Moms: Parents of the 21st Century.  

Mrs. McKenzie is the host of My Morning Coffee Podcast with Lieutenant Gia Neil of the LA County Sheriff Department and Leaders & Learners Podcast. She also co-hosts #PRLunchHour on Twitter Spaces. Tonya empowers people through PR and leadership.