Michelle’s mother was a “Rosie” during World War II, working for the Department of Agriculture in Kansas while her father went to war in Europe. Her mother-in-law was also a Rosie who worked in a parachute factory and her father-in-law worked on the home front in poultry production during the war. Michelle joined the Board of Directors for the Rosie the Riveter Trust in 2019 and became President in 2024. She is a member of the Development & Communications Committee and the Gala Committee. She is committed to using her background in public education and outreach to support the Trust and further the goals of the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park. Michelle is a graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara and is a lifelong student of American history.

You can reach Michelle at:

michelle@rosietheriveter.org

Mark strongly believes in the mission of Rosie the Riveter Trust and the power of the WWII home front history to inspire good works in current and future generations. Mark is an attorney in Miller Starr Regalia’s Walnut Creek office. He has over 30 years of experience in California as a litigator, strategist, and negotiator of complex multi-party disputes in commercial lending, construction, insurance, environmental rights and obligations, general business, and real estate. Over the past 12 years Mark has updated and authored two chapters, Defective Construction and Receivers, in the respected legal treatise, Miller & Starr California Real Estate, 3rd, published by Thomson West. Mark received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He received his M.A. and his B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Davis.

Contributing towards the future financial success of the Rosie the Riveter Trust is exciting work for Sean. The deep history with Henry Kaiser and Rosie the Riveters during World War II is important to embrace and continue the traditions that the Rosies have built for future generations. Sean currently works for the Kaiser Permanente Health Plan as a Financial Consultant managing budgets for Medicare, Medicaid and Shared Services with experience in Facilities Admin, Real Estate and Clinical Technology. He is a member of the KP Historical Society. Sean holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Admin, Finance from San Diego State University and Master’s in Business Admin – Healthcare Finance from Point Loma Nazarene University. He is a licensed CA Real Estate broker and holds accreditations as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from the Juran Institute.

When learning about the Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park, Ebony was fascinated by the rich history and its connection with the healthcare company she has worked for since graduating college, Kaiser Permanente. Ebony believes it is important to keep the dynamic stories of the women, the integration of Black workers and their overall contributions to the WWII Home Front alive. Professionally, Ebony is a Principal Consultant in Leadership Development and an active member in her community. She is currently serving as a Governor Appointed Public Board Member for the California Architect Board and a leader with the Junior League of Oakland East Bay. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University, and a Masters of Health Administration from the University of Southern California, Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Laura Wall Klieves is the granddaughter of a Rosie. Hazel Sanders Wall Bennett joined International Harvester in Indianapolis, Indiana, working

there from approximately 1942 until 1946. At IH, she fitted and inspected

pistons for US Army half-tracks. She earned a promotion to Supervisor of

Women at the plant and was the first-ever female supervisor. Hazel

passed on her work ethic and independence to her granddaughter.

Since early 2022, Laura has volunteered for the Trust’s Development Committee, working to hone communications strategy and grow our Gala participation. Laura brings her diverse background to the Trust, including several decades of both marketing/advertising and learning & development/HR experience. Over her career, Laura has developed and driven strategy at the highest level, sat at the executive table, mentored clients and colleagues, facilitated workshops and webinars, spoken at conferences and events, and earned several industry awards.

Laura is committed to leveraging her knowledge and experience in storytelling to elevate the Rosie the Riveter Trust’s visibility, grow financial support for the Trust, and deliver on the mission and goals of the Rosie the Riveter / WWII Home Front National Historical Park.

At home, Laura and her husband, Bill, parent two adult children, who have left the nest, and two rescue dogs. Laura graduated from San Francisco State University and is a third-generation San Franciscan.

Scott’s interest in the Trust mission is both personal and professional. 

His mother was hired by Clay Bedford, General Manager of the Kaiser Shipyards in 1942. She worked there until 1945 when his father returned home from the South Pacific having served in the Navy “Seabees.” His grandmother, a Swedish immigrant from Finland, was a sheet metal worker in Yard 3.

The two original Kaiser child care centers, Maritime and Pullman (later to be renamed the Ruth Powers Center) were owned by Contra Costa County and operated as federal Head Start programs. When the county applied for funding for a replacement facility in 2000, Scott worked with the Rosie the Riveter National Park Superintendent at the time, Judy Hart, to preserve the historical Maritime and Powers Centers.   

Scott held top positions in 3 Northern California counties over a 33 year career. His experience in solving difficult budget, personnel, and management problems in Butte and Stanislaus Counties led to 20 years as the Chief Assistant County Administrator for Contra Costa County. After retiring in 2006 he became a management consultant; his assignments included assisting the City of Vallejo as it emerged from bankruptcy in 2011.

He holds degrees in Political Science from University of California, Davis, and a Masters in Public Administration from California State University, Chico. Born in Oakland, he grew up in Richmond, Kensington, and Oroville.

Michelle Prior is an esteemed Image and Branding Consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area, dedicated to empowering women in leadership. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in helping powerhouse women refine their personal brands through tailored image and style strategies. Michelle passionately believes that "your image is your brand," and she assists women in overcoming style challenges to align their appearance with their goals and values. As a celebrated public speaker and mentor, Michelle has delivered impactful talks at corporations, schools, and organizations, focusing on branding and the transition of midlife professional women into their best years. She co-founded the International Glam Institute, offering premier education in makeup and style, and hosts her own podcast. Michelle is also a published author and has taught courses on fashion, design, and sustainability. An active community member, she proudly serves with the Junior League of San Francisco, the Black Design Collective, and the Association of Image Consultants International. Michelle's commitment to empowering women continues to inspire those around her, making her a valuable asset to the Rosie Gala chair 23 and 24

Being involved with the Rosie the Riveter Trust allows Warren a small part of preserving the rich and important history of the Richmond community and the monumental effort made by all during World War II. Most important to Warren is honoring the legacy of those who took chances, challenged the cultural norms, and made the history that affects each of our lives today. Warren Harber is the Vice President of Finance and leads the technology strategy for National Financial Systems for Kaiser Permanente Hospitals and Health Plan. In this capacity, Warren is responsible for leading Kaiser’s IT systems roadmap in finance, supply chain, and enterprise shared services. Warren holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He is the Executive Advisor to HIUG, a healthcare technology advocacy organization.

Tom helped bring Rosie the Riveter/ WWII Home Front National Historical Park to life. He led the effort in lobbying Congress and authored much of the local legislation related to Richmond’s partnership position. Tom then served as the Trust’s founding Board president. He has served as mayor of Richmond since 2015 and on the Richmond City Council since 1995, including a year as vice-mayor in 2002. Tom is an architect and president of Interactive Resources, a Richmond, California, architecture, engineering and planning firm. In addition to providing a wide range of consulting services, Interactive Resources is a developer of urban infill real estate projects. Tom is active in many organizations including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

Ricka’s interest in Rosie the Riveter / WWII Home Front National Historical Park began with a simple Rosie the Riveter – “We can do it” tee shirt that was given to her by a female labor leader years ago. At that time, there were very few females in Labor leadership roles and the ever-changing landscape is inspiring to current and future generations building amazing momentum for years to come.

Since 2004, as a proud member of United Business Bank’s Labor Relations Team, Ricka continues to enjoy working for a company that recognizes the vision, influence, and countless contributions that Organized Labor provides to our diverse communities. While developing a deeper understanding of the importance of analyzing competitive financial landscapes, Ricka continues to foster a genuine appreciation for the significant differences between oversight and management. Sharing guidance, being present and understanding true motivations inspires dedication to explore new horizons.

Ricka is the daughter of a Service Employees International Union Retiree, a 32-year retired Banker, the sister of a California Teachers Association Retiree, California Nurses Association Union member, International Federation of Professional & Technical Workers Union member, and the proud Wife of her amazing United Food & Commercial Workers Union Retiree. Ricka is a product of her experiences and embraces the purpose of throwing kindness around like confetti. Ricka joined the Rosie the Riveter Trust Finance and Gala committees in 2023 and proudly joined the Board of Directors in 2024. 

Other community leadership includes serving as a member of the Sprinkler Fitters Local 483 Scholarship & Community Fund and previously serving in leadership positions at the Cypress Mandela Training Center as a former Board and Committee member. Ricka is committed to broadening community support for the Rosie the Riveter Trust by leveraging longtime business relationships.