Toni Tinoco, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Communications

Toni Tinoco joined CalSTA as Assistant Deputy Secretary for Communications in September 2025. In this role, Toni oversees public communications across CalSTA’s departments, boards and authorities to ensure consistent and effective messaging statewide.

Prior to joining CalSTA, Toni served 10 years with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) as Central Valley Deputy Regional Director and Acting Chief of Strategic Communications and External Affairs, where she directed statewide and regional communications, oversaw media relations and built community partnerships across the Merced to Bakersfield corridor. She also managed the Authority’s Central Valley Training Center, a pre-apprenticeship program aimed at providing workforce training in partnership with the building trades. Earlier in her career, Toni was a radio reporter and news video editor in the Central Valley. 

Toni earned a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism from California State University, Fresno.