The City of Pensacola has selected Shannon Nickinson as the new Public Information and Strategic Communications Officer and Tonya Byrd as the new Parks and Recreation Director.
In their respective roles, Nickinson will lead the city’s Public Information Office and spearhead the municipality’s strategic communications initiatives, while Byrd will lead the vision and development of the Parks and Recreation Department. Both will work under the direction of City Administration and Mayor Reeves, playing key roles in advancing the citywide strategic plan. Together, Nickinson and Byrd bring more than 50 years of combined experience and knowledge to city leadership.
“As our city continues to move forward and implement the strategic plan, it’s essential to pair fresh perspectives with proven leadership,” Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said. “Shannon and Tonya’s experience, insight and dedication will keep Pensacola moving forward, enhancing the quality of life for our community’s residents and visitors.”
Shannon Nickinson
Nickinson joins the city after four years as Director of Communications at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition.
In her role with IHMC, Nickinson led internal and external communications with an emphasis on content production and storytelling.
Shannon NickinsonPreviously, Nickinson spent nearly 15 years with the Pensacola News Journal as Chief Content Editor, followed by nine years at the Studer Community Institute as a Project Manager and later as Executive Director of Early Learning. While at SCI, Nickinson implemented projects, programs and tools to assist local parents and children — reaching more than 18,000 families.
Nickinson earned her Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She is a PACE Award winner and has served on the Northwest Florida YMCA Board of Directors, as well as several other volunteer parent engagement roles for the Escambia County School System.
As the Public Information and Strategic Communications Officer, Nickinson will oversee the Public Information Office’s mission, vision and operations.
Shannon Nickinson’s first day with the City of Pensacola will be Monday, Jan. 5th.
Tonya Byrd, CPRP
Byrd began her tenure with the City of Pensacola in 2014, starting as the Parks and Recreation Marketing Coordinator, followed by promotions to Recreation Superintendent in
Tonya Byrd, CPRP2019 and Assistant Director in 2023.
As the Assistant Director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, Byrd oversaw park maintenance, athletics and recreation.
Under Byrd’s leadership, the department maintained a wide array of programming across community recreational facilities, sports fields, playgrounds and parks, while navigating aging infrastructure and limited resources.
Byrd earned her Bachelor of Science in communications from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, where she began her career in Parks and Recreation as a Marketing and Public Relations Supervisor, Public Information and Marketing Coordinator, and Deputy Director of Family Recreation and Community Engagement.
She is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional and an active member of the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Florida Recreation and Parks Association. Byrd is also a graduate of multiple leadership and municipal management programs and has served in advisory and ambassador roles supporting workforce development, youth leadership and community engagement.
As Parks and Recreation Director, Byrd will oversee the department’s operations, including the management of parks, recreational facilities and community programs, ensuring high-quality recreational services for the Pensacola community.
Tonya Byrd’s appointment is subject to approval by the Pensacola City Council at the January meeting.
