2017 January

Mary Klaus Martin was appointed by Mayor Richard Riordan to the Cultural Heritage Commission for the City of Los Angeles in 2000; she served seven years and three mayors, half of those as president. In 2008, The American Institute of Architects presented her with the “Good Government Award” honoring her commitment to preserve and protect the city’s cultural and historic landmarks. Under her Commission’s watch, the city’s Historic Core underwent a major revitalization.

She attended school in Switzerland and earned her Bachelor and Masters in Education and French at the University of Southern California. A two-time All-American triathlete, Mary qualified for TEAM USA, representing the United States and placed third at the Inaugural World Champion Triathlon in Avignon, France.

After serving as a Docent for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), she became a Charter Founder for the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) where she recently (2015) was elected as trustee to its board. She works in support of the Music Center, The Colleagues, the LA Public Library and the Kennedy Center’s National Committee for the Performing Arts.

Mary founded the Los Angeles apparel company Mary Martin for Rainbow of California and was named “Outstanding Woman of the Year.” She is owner of an international aerospace company based in California. Mary along with her husband, have established MADWORKSHOP, a foundation that endows the next generation of inventors with the opportunity to freely explore their ideas from inspiration to reality.