Tonya Allen
About Tonya Allen
Independent director at Sun Communities, Inc. (SUI) since 2021; age 52. She is President of the McKnight Foundation and brings institutional investment stewardship (oversight of a ~$2.8B endowment), impact-investing leadership, and ESG/inclusion expertise. Current SUI committee roles include Co-Chair of the CEO Succession Planning Committee and member of the Nominating & Corporate Governance (NCG) and Compensation Committees; the Board plans to appoint her as NCG Committee Chair post-2025 annual meeting. She is classified as an independent director under NYSE rules.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Skillman Foundation | President & CEO (former) | Not disclosed | Led corporate responsibility strategies recognized by regulators and media |
| Various leadership fellowships (GMF, Aspen, Pahara, Rockwood, AEI) | Fellow | Not disclosed | Strategic leadership credentials |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKnight Foundation | President | Nonprofit | Oversees ~$2.8B endowment |
| Living Cities | Board Member | Nonprofit | Current directorship |
| GHR Foundation | Trustee | Nonprofit | Current trusteeship |
| General Motors | Inclusion Advisory Board Member | Advisory | Current member |
| Quicken Loans, CMS Energy, DTE Energy, Huntington, PNC | Advisor (served or serves) | Advisory | Inclusion/corporate responsibility advising |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board has determined that Tonya Allen is independent. Independent directors meet in executive session regularly.
- Committees (current and planned):
- CEO Succession Planning Committee: Co-Chair (formed Nov 2024; continues post-2025 meeting)
- NCG Committee: Member; planned Chair after 2025 annual meeting
- Compensation Committee: Member; continues post-2025 annual meeting
- Board attendance and engagement: The Board met 18 times in 2024; all directors attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings. Directors attend annual training; topics included shareholder activism and sustainability in real estate.
- Lead independent director: Clunet R. Lewis.
- Shareholder engagement: Reached out to 16 of top 25 holders (~63% outstanding) in 2024; regular updates to the Board.
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Year | Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Fees Earned (Cash) | $108,510 | CEO Succession Committee participation carries no additional fees |
| 2024 | Committee Fee Schedule (reference) | Audit Chair $30,000; Audit member $25,000; Comp Chair $22,500; Comp member $17,500; Capital Allocation Chair $22,500; member $17,500; NCG Chair $22,500; member $17,500; Executive Committee member $17,500 | For context; individual component breakdown not itemized for Ms. Allen |
| 2025 | Board and Committee Fee Levels | Reduced by 20% vs. 2024 | Reduction adopted to better align director comp expense with market cap |
Performance Compensation (Director)
| Grant Type | Grant Date | Shares Granted | Grant-Date Fair Value | Vesting/Performance Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Stock (time-based) | Jan 18, 2024 | 2,000 | $258,020 | Director equity disclosed as restricted stock; no performance metrics specified; CEO Succession Committee carries no extra cash fees |
| Restricted Shares Outstanding | Dec 31, 2024 | 5,700 | — | Outstanding balance as of year-end 2024 |
Note: SUI’s director equity awards are disclosed as restricted stock; the proxy does not specify performance metrics for director equity awards.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public Company? | Role | Interlocks/Conflicts Disclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No public company directorships disclosed for Ms. Allen |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Institutional investment and impact investing leadership; co-chair of the US Impact Alliance’s Presidents Council for Impact Investing (20 foundations; ~$80B AUM)
- Sustainability leadership (climate/energy), DEI, and economic development; advisory roles to major corporates and banks
- Education: Master’s in Public Health; Master’s in Social Work; Bachelor’s in Sociology (University of Michigan); executive education at Harvard; honorary doctorate (Ecumenical Theological Seminary)
- Recognitions include Detroit News Michiganian of the Year; Crain’s Detroit Business 100 Most Influential Women; Chronicle of Philanthropy Five Innovators to Watch
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director Stock Ownership Guideline | 8x annual Board cash retainer; 50% retention of vested shares until compliant |
| Compliance Status | As of March 10, 2025, all non-employee directors were in compliance |
| Restricted Shares Outstanding (12/31/24) | 5,700 for Ms. Allen |
| Hedging/Pledging | Hedging prohibited; pledging prohibited unless NCG Committee approves |
Governance Assessment
- Positives
- Independent director with strong ESG and endowment oversight skillset; currently co-leading CEO succession and poised to chair NCG—key levers for board effectiveness and refreshment.
- Director compensation aligned: 2025 Board and committee fees reduced by 20% following review of expense vs. market cap; CEO Succession participation carries no added fees.
- Robust ownership alignment framework: 8x retainer guideline; all directors in compliance; anti-hedging and controlled pledging policy.
- Board engagement: 18 meetings; all directors ≥75% attendance; ongoing training; structured ERM and committee oversight including related-party review through NCG.
- Potential Risks/Conflicts
- No related-party transactions disclosed involving Ms. Allen. Related-party items in 2024 involved other directors and the CEO (office lease, legal services, aircraft, family employment), all reviewed under policy.
- No public-company interlocks or compensation committee interlocks disclosed involving Ms. Allen; Compensation Committee reported no interlocks.
- Signals for investors
- Elevation to NCG Chair and CEO Succession Co-Chair indicates high engagement on succession and governance reforms—constructive for investor confidence during CEO transition.
- Fee reductions in 2025 and stock ownership compliance support alignment and cost discipline as the company simplifies and deleverages.
Other Notes
- Board and committee composition changes are planned post-2025 annual meeting; Ms. Allen expected to Chair NCG and continue as Compensation member and CEO Succession Co-Chair.
- Independent directors meet regularly without management; Lead Independent Director framework in place.