Tonit Calaway

by Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo
Success is success wherever it may be found. But hometown successes are enthusiastically lauded and treasured.

Such is the journey of Our Woman, Our Treasure, Our Jewel: Tonit Calaway, Assistant General Counsel and Chief Compliance Counsel of Harley Davidson, Inc. An example of Milwaukee’s finest, for whom we all feel a sense of community pride.

Born in Milwaukee, her early education was at Milwaukee Montessori School. Tonit explains, "I was born in Milwaukee and lived in the Parkview neighborhood. In fact, my parents continue to live in the homestead, they are proudly my roots."

She attended Wauwatosa East High School and participated in many extracurricular activities, including Girls Golf. She was named Prom Queen in her junior year, and graduated with honors. She went on to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she received a degree in political science with a minor in economics in 1989.

Her father, George A. Calaway, was a machinist at the Falk Corporation. He encouraged his children to understand corporate structure, the significance of stock and the role stockholders play. This early exposure expanded young Tonit’s vision of her personal career possibilities.

Moving on to law school, Tonit attended the University of Chicago, from which she received her Law Degree in 1992. Tonit then began her legal career at Godfrey and Kahn S.C., a major Wisconsin law firm. There she focused on securities and public finance law. She later was lured away to continue her practice at Davis and Kuelthau, S.C.

In 1998, she was offered a position at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, which she accepted. The intervening years have been a time of tremendous personal and professional growth for her.

Harley-Davidson is a company of long standing in Wisconsin. It’s reputation for quality has been a benchmark since its inception over 105 years ago. As Wright was to the airplane and Ford to the automobile, Harley and Davidson were to the motorcycle.

Who has not admired the freedom that the motorcycle conjures as it vrooms along the road? And Harley-Davidson has captured the excitement and exhilaration of nature and speed, coupled with safety and cost, while pursuing diversity in employee backgrounds, experience, fairness and a strong sense of corporate citizenship.

So what does an Assistant General Counsel do? Her duties are many, her role equally varied, but her primary responsibility is serving as securities counsel to the company. In this capacity, she works directly under her mentor, Executive Vice President and General Counsel Gail Lione. Her position requires succinct knowledge and the ability to articulate it verbally, in writing and through presentation.

Tonit has a deep passion for Milwaukee and the desire to encourage other young people to come home after college.

Discussing her education, she said: "When I began at UWM, I was studying pre-med, but as I continued, I was able to begin to define for myself what I preferred. Young students must be given that opportunity as well."

To our youth, she reminds, "You have to do loads of reading and writing. Read, write, it is so important! In these days of technology, it is so simple to watch a movie or focus most of your energy on video games, but nothing beats a good book.

"And aim high!" she exclaims. "You can never go wrong with aiming high. You might fall short, but that is much better than not trying at all. Anything worth having takes work."

While she loves her position, she knows she is on a journey. Her current post is not her pinnacle; it is part of her growth and discovery process. She began her climb as first the corporate counsel then senior counsel and now, Assistant General Counsel, another rung on the self-actualization ladder.

As I shared with Tonit, the young women at King School who are beginning their journey of enlightenment under Dr. William Roger’s Nirvana Ministries project, "What Is A Woman," she confided, "I mentioned my father before, but I must also mention my mom, she was a teacher and principal for many years at MPS. Both of my parents always made certain that I was exposed to a variety of experiences. They kept me very busy.

"My husband, David Swanson, is very smart and totally supportive me. He is also a lawyer and is a great partner, as well as an advisor. My two children, Kyra and Calaway, have also taught me a lot! They have been my support system as I have journeyed through life.

"But I want the youngsters to know that Milwaukee has a place for them. It is time for Milwaukeeans to stand up and fight to show their strength. Milwaukee’s strengths far outweigh its shortcomings. I am happy to be a part of this positive change process."

And we agree that we are happy to have you as part of this change process, Assistant General Counsel Tonit Calaway. You are a proven Treasure! Milwaukee proudly claims you, Our Woman, Our Treasure, Our Jewel! We applaud your accomplishments and illuminate your journey, for it is one that reflects so positively for our community, and particularly our youth, who now look to you!