WHOW Board of Directors
Michelle Dean, Founder & President
As a woman who experienced much abuse as a child and lived in a dysfunctional & abusive marriage for 23 years. I have learned to overcome many things in my lifetime. I always wanted more in life but never believed I could have more. I was a survivor of my abuse but still struggled with so much! I had no voice. I was afraid of everything. I didn't believe in myself. I had absolutely no self-confidence. I kept hearing the words of my mother when I was young... "get your head out of the clouds, get married and have babies, that's what women are supposed to do."
Well, God had other plans for me! No matter how much I tried to hide people and opportunities always found me. Little by little I learned to believe in myself, even if it was just for a moment to take that first step! You can read more about my individual story in my book "My Journey from Surviving to Thriving, My Story of Surviving Years of Abuse and My Journey to Thriving." It was published in October 2024 and is available on Barnes and Noble. Local bookstores can order it from Ingram if they do not have it in stock. (www.michelledean.org)
I believe women must learn their strengths and skills (we ALL have them!), learn to face our fears, and find our voice. It is not easy, but it is certainly possible! I know because I did! Will you join me?
Yelva Beath, Community Outreach Coordinator
I've been married to my college sweetheart for over 35 years and together we were blessed with 2 children. As much as I loved living near family in the East Bay, my dream as a little girl was to live in the country where one can see green rolling hills dotted with farm animals and breathe fresh air. My husband received a job offer in Sonora and soon that dream became a reality in 2001. We settled into our new community happily and I began meeting folks through my direct selling business. It was during this time that I met Michelle Dean and quickly became good friends as she was a recent transplant as well.
For years afterwards, I was busy as a stay-at-home mom, a job that I absolutely loved. I became wholly immersed in my children's education, attending school events and activities at their elementary school. I volunteered as a class helper in their classes once a week and helped as a Scrip fundraising coordinator which was fun and allowed for the social aspect of getting together with other moms. However, that all ended when they began high school.
Shortly after, I became a caregiver to both my parents who moved up from Southern California. They each had suffered a health crisis, which was very difficult but I learned that I was made of sterner stuff to my surprise. As the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. That along with my healthcare knowledge from my previous work experience as an in-patient pharmacy technician at an East Bay hospital, helped me cope and concentrate on knowing how to not only care for them but to act on their behalf. Sadly, my father passed away in 2020 during COVID and I ended up living with my mom for 6 months as she required assisted-living. My sister and I made the decision to move our mother to live with her in Nevada where she would be taken care of by my niece as I found it difficult to manage 2 households.
My husband and I became "empty nesters" shortly afterwards as both our kids moved to attend universities away from home. Enter WHOW...
I have been with WHOW since the beginning. First as a place for women business owners which eventually evolved to all women who wished to learn and be inspired.
My passion I believe has always been my family and friends' well-being. I look forward to see where this journey called life takes me and hope to help & inspires others along way. God Bless!
Georgia Marcus, Treasurer
Jill Klajic-Ryan, Project Manager
Jill Klajic-Ryan was born in Arkansas and raised in Turlock, CA. She spent 40 years in Southern California where she was married and raised 5 children. She relocated back to Northern California in 2003.
She is now living in a retirement community where she serves on the Resident Council as Vice-President and an active member of their Relational Wellness Committee.
Jill has been a supporter of WHOW (Women Helping Other Women) since 2015 and served multiple roles on our Board of Directors. Jill now serves as our Project Manager helping us raise funds for our future!
Jill’s work experience consists of:
Marketing Director for a large Home Health Care Company
Job Developer for the Department of Labor's Senior Employment Program
Mayor of the City of Santa Clarita
Co-Owner of Precision Technical Service (Metrologist Company)
Community Relations Liaison for the San Francisco Public Relations Department
Co-Owner of TLC (a California State Licensed company for Residential Care Licensing)
Presently the owner of her own publishing company Books by Jill
Community Service has included:
Co-founder of the Central Valley Marketing and Administrator Professionals
Founder of the Stanislaus Senior Foundation
Co-Founder of the Sonora Writers Group & Chair Tuolumne Writers Conference
Director of the SCV Battered Women’s Association
Vice-President Stanislaus County Commission on Aging