Alumni Spotlight - Toni Lindsey

A&M-Texarkana alumna Toni Lindsey has a “never say no” mentality.

She shares, “When anybody asks me to do something, I always say ‘Yes’ first. I just do. I always say yes. I’m always the first one there and the last one to leave.”

This mindset began with family matriarchs who believed she could do anything and everything. “Nothing was unobtainable. They never said, ‘You can’t do this’.”

Growing up on a Ranch in Kaufman, TX, Toni showed cattle, even as a petite young girl, and began working weekends at the town’s movie theater at 13. “My family knew the owners and they trusted me. I loved it. I love to work and I never stopped.”

She also worked at the local Dairy Mart and a café around the corner from their home. When the restaurant’s owner needed a new metal sign for the business, Toni volunteered for the job…at just 14 years old.

“I thought, I can do it. It’s a metal sign. How hard can it be?”

Although her dad asked plenty of questions about her commitment, Toni always had an answer in return. His response wasn’t no, but “Okay…”

“I said, “Dad, it’s a metal sign. You paint it white. He has the paint. I’ll stencil one side, let it dry, and flip it over and stencil the other side.”

The 4 x 8 sign settled on the floor of the family living room as Toni stenciled. She finished the job and was very proud of her work. “My dad asked, “What made you think you could do it?” I said, ‘It’s just a sign.’ I don’t say no.”

Her work ethic and can-do spirit carried her into a 25 ½ year tenure with Opportunities, Inc. She began working as Office Manager at 30 years old in 1991. “I noticed there was consistent turnover in the Nursing Home Administrator position. I went to Patty Smith, Executive Director at the time, and said, “I want the job.”

Yet, Toni had to go back to school to take the position. “I graduated from A&M-Texarkana in 98’ and took the job in May of that same year. I wanted that job. Patty said the day you graduate, the following month, it’s yours.”

Toni obtained a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree (now the Bachelor of Science in Leadership). “I met a lot of good people. The instructors were great. I could fit it into my work schedule and Opportunities also worked around my education too, because they knew they were building me. They were building a future person for work.”

In 2005, Toni stepped into the role of CFO for Opportunities. “They asked, ‘Do you want it?’ and I said, ‘Yes!’ I loved it. I love numbers. I’ve always loved numbers. It was an amazing job. It was a pleasure to work there.”

In 2018, an opportunity came available for Toni to take a position with Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG). “When I started working at ATCOG, I thought, ‘Wow! It’s another place like Opportunities! The job is just a Godsend. The people I get to work with are wonderful. So far, all the grant applications that I have submitted have met funding eligibility.”

Toni serves as the Regional Development Director, writing and administering grants for the nine counties in Texas under the ATCOG’s jurisdiction. “The maximum number of grants we’ve held at one time is eight. Currently, we have six.” Toni’s responsibility is to administer the grants for the two-to-five years they are in effect. “My degree taught me how to work with people. Finance is finance, but my education helped me work with people well. For the last few years, my department has helped organize the Red River Leadership Institute with George Mannings, author of Art of Leadership. I think my education helped me with the organization and planning of the event. It’s also really made me want to finish my master’s degree.”

Toni’s daughter, Susan, graduated with her bachelor’s degree from A&M-Texarkana in December 2025. She also plans to return in the Fall to pursue her master’s. Toni has 21 hours towards her graduate degree, so mother and daughter may continue their A&M-Texarkana educations in tandem. “She can’t beat me!” Toni jokes. “Seriously, watching my daughter graduate from A&M-Texarkana was a powerful moment for me. It took me back to my own education at the University and how my bachelor’s degree opened the door to a career I loved for 20 years, and how beginning my master’s degree paved the way for the role I’ve held and loved for the past six years. Now, I’m excited to move forward and see what’s next.”

One of Toni’s grandsons is also a current Eagle, with plans to pursue law school after graduating. Susan’s son is a junior in high school, currently considering engineering, and Toni hopes he’ll also become an Eagle. “I love it. I was so proud when my daughter graduated. It just tickled me to death. She’s on a roll. She’s not going to stop. They’re all amazing people.”

Susan was a junior in high school when Toni graduated in 98’ and now, her son was also a junior when she walked across the stage—a special full-circle moment for the Lindsey family. Toni shares, “My son is the Economic Development Director in Dekalb. He’s doing the same thing I do. I passed it along to him. My daughter is in the newspaper business in New Boston. I have both to talk to about work. Work has always been important to me. I like learning and I like working. I like helping people and communities. As long as I can, I will.”