Since January 2008, Mark Toney has provided leadership to TURN, a 38 year old consumer advocacy organization with a staff of 18, including 10 attorneys. TURN champions affordable, equitable, and sustainable energy, telecom, and other utility services for residential and small business consumers primarily in California. TURN wins consumer justice through legal intervention at the California Public Utilities Commission, political advocacy, and community organizing.
Mark Toney's dissertation, A Second Chance for the First Time: Movement Formation Among Former Incarcerated People, analyzes organizing efforts among the growing number of people released from prison who are fighting for the restoration of their basic rights to employment, housing, voting, and social benefits.
Employment experience for Mark Toney includes serving as executive director for Center for Third World Organizing, founding director of Direct Action for Rights & Equality, and a consulting practice focused on strategic planning and leadership coaching. Examples of his leadership recognition include: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Kellogg National Leadership Program, and the Echoing Green Fellowship.