Democracy needs defenders, and it starts with you! Sign up to attend the Renew Democracy 250 weekly Zoom community call. Hear from special guests, learn how to take action, and connect with community members.
Special Guest Speaker: Steve Tobia
Steve Tobia is a strategic communications and public policy issues management expert on the West Coast. He grew up in a suburb of NYC and went to undergraduate school at the Univ of Dayton in Ohio, where he was twice elected student body president. He was granted a Public Affairs Fellowship with the CORO Foundation in S. California, one of the leading public affairs training organizations in the country. He obtained his master’s degree in urban studies and public Affairs from Occidental College in L.A. in 1980.
Steve began his professional career with the L.A. Chamber of Commerce as manager of the Human Relations Council. He then worked with Coca-Cola and was appointed V.P. of public affairs & communications as the youngest officer at the age of 29. During his work there, he was managed numerous public communications initiatives such as the sponsorship of the 1984 L.A. Olympics and Hands Across America. One of his major legislative accomplishments was chairing a statewide coalition of bipartisan Legislators in the creation and passage of California’s landmark recycling legislation.
Tobia formed his own public affairs and communications firm in 1987 with a focus on public policy issues management for corporations, gov’t agencies, labor unions, trade associations, nonprofits, educational institutions, political candidates and statewide campaign initiatives on the West Coast. He managed 8 offices specializing in environmental issues, development & planning, economic development, healthcare reform & insurance, grassroots campaigns and public education campaigns. He served many Fortune 500 Companies such as McDonalds, Pepsi, Blue Cross, the States of California & Nevada, L.A., San Diego & San Fran Counties and numerous nonprofits.
Taking his experience and expertise in communications and public policy, Steve purchased a weekly community newspaper group in the LA Region and a monthly magazine. His publications took a different approach to reporting without quotes from any sources but rather, facts collected from different sources, so news stories did not appear slanted or biased. He wrote weekly editorials entitled “In My Opinion” that offered his political perspectives of what was occurring, the players in the debates and reactions from the news stories.
Active in community and business nonprofits, Steve has served as chair of numerous educational and youth organizations, as well as being appointed to government commissions focused on education, the environment and economic development. He was recognized in the Congressional Record for his achievements along with other recognitions from non-profits and educational institutions.
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