Rose Castillo Guilbault was born in Sonora, Mexico, and grew up in the Salinas Valley of California. She was a columnist for Pacific News Service and the San Francisco Chronicle, was editorial director for KGO-TV (ABC San Francisco) and creator of the television series “Profiles of Excellence.” She is currently vice president of corporate affairs at AAA of Northern California, Nevada, and Utah, and is the chairwoman of the Board of Governors for the Commonwealth Club of California.