A Respected Voice in the Latino Community Joins the AAA

CSAA, the AAA affiliate in Northern California, Nevada and Utah, has named Rose Guilbault its new Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. Guilbault brings many years of media and community affairs experience to her new role. Guilbault will oversee all aspects of the 3.9 million-member associations public affairs functions, including community relations, media relations, and governmental affairs. She supervises a staff of 30 in the San Francisco headquarters. "Rose brings extensive public and community affairs experience to AAA," says AAA President and CEO James Molinelli. "She is highly regarded throughout the country for her efforts and leadership with diverse community organizations." As a dedicated media professional, she has long been a respected voice in the community."We look forward to Rose playing an important role with AAA as we move into the 21st century."

Guilbault most recently served as KGO-TV's (ABC, San Francisco) Editorial and Public Affairs Director. In that role she directed the station's community relations and public service initiatives. As Editorial Director, she also coordinated the research and content selection for the station's commentaries as well as presenting them on-air. Guilbault also hosted a weekly public affairs program for KGO-TV, covering local news issues, lifestyles and contributors to Bay Area communities. Previously Guilbault was a producer/director with KPIX-TV (CBS, San Francisco) from 1975-78. She also worked at KGO radio in production and at KNTV in San Jose as an interviewer/producer for the public affairs program. In 1978, she was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Specials.

Guilbault has a long history of success and recognition for her work with special community projects, including San Francisco's annual Self-Help for the Elderly Walkathon and AIDS Walk San Francisco. Under her leadership at KGO-TV, the public affairs department launched Profiles in Excellence, three programs produced annually to salute African-Americans, Asian Americans

and Hispanic Americans. In 1991, President George Bush appointed Guilbault to the President's Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans.

Fluent in Spanish and English, Guilbault earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from San Jose State University, an M.A. from the University of San Francisco and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University. She is a member of the Board of Governors for the Commonwealth Club of California. She is also on the Board of Trustees for the College of Notre Dame.

"AAA has a large Latino constituency throughout our territory," Guilbault explains. "My job is to communicate all the great things this company is doing in a variety of ways from media interviews, community forums to meetings with legislators. Being bilingual allows me access to a wider audience. You know, my mother never learned to speak English, so I was the translator for the family. I continue to play that role at AAA by communicating important consumer information Latinos might not otherwise receive."

"Some of the ways we reach out to Latinos is by providing Spanish-language radio stations free consumer information programs," she continues. Topics range from tips on auto care, child seat safety instructions to new driving and highway laws. "We also offer instructional videos for children and teens on highway safety and driving instruction all in Spanish."

Guilbault was born in Sonora, Mexico and emigrated to King City, California with her family when she was five years old. Her father worked on a nearby farm and was fortunate enough to work for the same farm year-round, so her education was stable and consistent. Guilbault is proof that economic disadvantages in youth can be overcome with education. "All doors open to you if you have an education," she advises. "An education levels the playing field." She also says that students should be careful about choosing a major and a career. "You really need to choose something you love and be able to define that, rather than choosing something that will just make a lot of money. If you don't find your passion, it's harder to succeed."

Established nearly 100 years ago, the AAA affiliate of Northern California, Nevada and Utah offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to its nearly four million members. It is the second largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization.