Managing Partner, Praxis Public Relations, Inc.
The Honorable Paul Jude Tonna serves as Managing Partner of Praxis Public Relations, Inc., a Long Island-based business public affairs company.
Mr. Tonna has over 30 years health care experience having served as Director of Personnel at St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn, NY and CEO of Professional Evaluation Medical Group, a NY Metro-based preventative medical screening service.
Paul was elected to office from 1994 to 2005 as a Suffolk County legislator and led the county’s legislature as presiding officer for three years. During his time in office, he was a strong advocate for the poor, homeless and marginalized, as well as workforce housing and the environment. He sponsored, co-sponsored and passed numerous laws and initiatives including groundbreaking non-smoking legislation; innovative programs focused on eliminating child poverty and homelessness; legislation designed to elevate the standard of living for all Suffolk County residents; and innovative Greenway funds to protect open space and farmlands.
Mr. Tonna is a former adjunct professor of theology and religious studies at St. John’s University. He served as Chairman of the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and Vice Chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Council. He is an active member of many not-for-profit boards including: The Advanced Energy Research & Technology Center (SBU), Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), Community Housing Innovations’ (CHI) LI Advisory Board and Flushing Bank Advisory Board. Paul serves as the Executive Director of Suffolk County Village Officials Association (SCVOA), United States Green Building Council-Long Island (USGBC-LI) and The Energeia Partnership, a leadership academy dedicated to identifying and addressing serious, complex and multi-dimensional issues challenging the Long Island region. He is also Chairman and Commissioner of the South Huntington Water District.
Paul has received many awards and honors including: Eagle Scout; Molloy University’s Caritas Medal; St. John’s University’s St. Vincent de Paul Medal; Suffolk County Human Rights Commission Legislator of the Year; National Association of Social Workers Public Citizen of the Year; Habitat for Humanity Man of the Year; The Nature Conservancy’s Conservation Award; Networking Magazine’s David Award; Long Island Advancement For Commerce, Industry and Technology (ACIT) Award; Community Advocate Award; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Public Service Award; and the American Jewish Committee Community Service Honoree.
Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from New York University, a master’s degree in theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary and he conducted doctoral studies in systematic theology at Fordham University. Paul resides in Huntington, New York with his wife Carol and his children Peter, Paul, John, Grace, Mary, Carolann, Joseph and Lucy.