An experienced financial executive specializing in retirement plans, Katonya Hughey began her career in 1988 at Aetna Financial Services (AFS). Although AFS was eventually purchased by ING, Katonya Hughey continued to work for the company until 2007, eventually rising to the position of Southeast client relations manager. In this role she managed 36 priority client accounts, which represented over $300 million in assets.

While working for ING, Katonya Hughey took courses at New Haven, Connecticut's Albertus Magnus College and, in 2007, earned a bachelor of science in business management. That same year she was hired as vice president of relationship management with Prudential Retirement, and was later promoted to director of the firm's defined benefit relationship management group. Upon leaving Prudential in 2013, she completed a master of science in organizational leadership at Quinnipiac University.

From 2013 to 2016, Ms. Hughey employed her leadership skills as a project manager and head of sales and recruiting with Ebix Consulting. She currently serves as senior vice president of retirement plan consulting for People's United Bank. In addition to her professional endeavors, she is a board member with the Farmington River Watershed Association and the director of membership with the Minority Interchange Network.