Staff

Mark Toney

Executive Director

Executive director since 2008, Mark has transformed TURN into a social movement organization, whose 27 staff are two-thirds women and two-thirds people of color, expanding its impact to promote and win racial and economic justice in energy affordability, climate action, and broadband equity policy areas.

Mark was appointed in 2020 to the California State Bar Board of Trustees by Governor Newsom and reappointed in 2024.  He also currently serves on the National Whistleblower Center board, and previously on the boards of ACLU Northern California and California Shakespeare Theatre.

Mark served as executive director of the Center for Third World Organizing for four years and of Direct Action for Rights & Equality for eight years.  He holds a B.A. from Brown University, a Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Berkeley, and has been recognized as a Kellogg National Leadership Fellow, National Science Foundation Fellow, Echoing Green Fellow, and Mother Jones Heroes for Hard Times.

  • Gabriela Sandoval, Ph.D.

    Deputy Director

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Administration

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    Richard A. Perez

    Chief Financial Officer

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    Cassandra Houston

    Human Resources Director

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    Reina Yanagiba

    Paralegal

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    Alejandra Cruz

    Human Resources Coordinator

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    Kelsey Chirlinn

    Digital Solutions Architect

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Communications

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    Lee Trotman

    Communications Director

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Philanthropy

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    CJ Callen

    Philanthropy Director

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Organizing Department

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    Constance Slider Pierre

    Organizing Director

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    Alejandra Vargo

    Southern California Organizer

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Race Equity & Legislative Policy

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    Adria Tinnin

    Race Equity & Legislative Policy Director

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Legal Staff – Energy Team