Full Name
Sonya Tilghman
Company
Hazelwood Initiative, Inc.
Speaker Bio
Sonya M. Tilghman is the Executive Director of Hazelwood Initiative, where she has served since January 2016. She brings more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience in community economic development across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Throughout her career, Sonya has built a reputation as a strategic and mission-driven leader with deep expertise in nonprofit governance, affordable housing finance, commercial and mixed-use development, and the management of complex grant, loan, and CRA compliance programs.
Before joining Hazelwood Initiative, Sonya spent three years as an independent consultant supporting community development financial institutions, public agencies, and municipalities. Her earlier career includes senior roles at Fifth Third Bank, where she served as the VP & CRA Manager for the Pittsburgh market, and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, where she was the regional commercial real estate lender focused on low- and moderate-income communities. She also held key positions with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, as well as community development corporations. Across these roles, she gained extensive experience with CDBG, HOME, LIHTC, NMTC, and other public financing programs that shape urban revitalization.
Sonya’s commitment to strengthening communities extends well beyond her professional work. She is an experienced and dedicated nonprofit trustee, currently serving on the board of The Progress Fund, and has previously served on the boards of the Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise, City of Bridges Community Land Trust, and Rising Tide Hazelwood, among others, and was an inaugural advisory board member of the City of Pittsburgh’s Housing Opportunity Fund.
In 2022, Governor Tom Wolf appointed Sonya to serve as a judge on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Court of Judicial Discipline. In 2025, she was appointed to the Allegheny County Health Department’s inaugural Housing Advisory Committee. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from DePauw University and an M.S. in Public Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as professional certifications in Economic Development Finance and Housing Development Finance from the National Development Council.
Sonya’s leadership and community service have been recognized through numerous honors and leadership programs, including Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Award, the New Pittsburgh Courier’s Fab 40 Award, the Pittsburgh Business Times’ Women of Excellence Award, Leadership Pittsburgh Class XXXIV, the inaugural cohort of Lead Now Pittsburgh, and The Advanced Leadership Institute’s Executive Leadership Academy.
Before joining Hazelwood Initiative, Sonya spent three years as an independent consultant supporting community development financial institutions, public agencies, and municipalities. Her earlier career includes senior roles at Fifth Third Bank, where she served as the VP & CRA Manager for the Pittsburgh market, and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, where she was the regional commercial real estate lender focused on low- and moderate-income communities. She also held key positions with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, as well as community development corporations. Across these roles, she gained extensive experience with CDBG, HOME, LIHTC, NMTC, and other public financing programs that shape urban revitalization.
Sonya’s commitment to strengthening communities extends well beyond her professional work. She is an experienced and dedicated nonprofit trustee, currently serving on the board of The Progress Fund, and has previously served on the boards of the Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise, City of Bridges Community Land Trust, and Rising Tide Hazelwood, among others, and was an inaugural advisory board member of the City of Pittsburgh’s Housing Opportunity Fund.
In 2022, Governor Tom Wolf appointed Sonya to serve as a judge on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Court of Judicial Discipline. In 2025, she was appointed to the Allegheny County Health Department’s inaugural Housing Advisory Committee. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from DePauw University and an M.S. in Public Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as professional certifications in Economic Development Finance and Housing Development Finance from the National Development Council.
Sonya’s leadership and community service have been recognized through numerous honors and leadership programs, including Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Award, the New Pittsburgh Courier’s Fab 40 Award, the Pittsburgh Business Times’ Women of Excellence Award, Leadership Pittsburgh Class XXXIV, the inaugural cohort of Lead Now Pittsburgh, and The Advanced Leadership Institute’s Executive Leadership Academy.
Speaking At
