Robert L. Habush, a devoted supporter of New Directions since its inception in 1985, recently retired as the Chairman of the Board of Habush, Habush & Rottier S.C.  He received his undergraduate degree and his juris doctor from the University of Wisconsin. Mr. Habush was Order of the Coif and a member of the Law Review. Mr. Habush is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, where he served on the Board of Directors.  He is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys.  He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates.  He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Trial Advocates and was the first President of the Wisconsin Chapter.  He is certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is listed in the Best Lawyers in America.  He is presently teaching Law at Marquette University located in Milwaukee. Mr. Habush and his wife, Mimi have been substantive contributors to the Milwaukee Jewish Family Services Campaign.  The Jewish Family Services has honored them with the naming of the JFS Robert and Mimi Habush Family Center.  In addition, the Habush House was established with a gift of an eight-family unit apartment building to the Jewish Family Services.  He is a devoted father to two daughters and enjoys spending time with his four grandchildren. The American Bar Association has recently published a biography about Mr. Habush, titled Courtroom Avenger, which is available on Amazon.

Joan Rosselle is the retired Director of Distinguished Giving for the American Cancer Society, where she established major giving task forces in Monterey and Santa Clara Counties. Her main efforts with ACS involved recruiting major donors, bringing them an awareness of and a willingness to give to cancer research. Prior to that, she was Director of Major Giving at El Camino Hospital Foundation in Mountain View. Joan coordinated the capital campaign for a new hospital building, established a thriving women’s philanthropy circle and directed the major giving program.  Joan earned a BA at Bethany College in Bethany, W.VA, a Certificate in Marketing at the University of California, Berkeley and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction at Mercy Center in Burlingame. Currently, Joan volunteers with her church. She is a golfer and sings with a chorus in her community. Joan's daughter, Carey loves traveling with New Directions.

Adam Hoffman experienced New Directions for the first time at Christmas in the year 2000. As a new arrival in California, he was recruited by Susie Williams to be a tour guide for Holiday Happiness in San Francisco. Since then he’s never looked back. In addition to marrying Susie, he has watched his two amazing children grow up as part of the Holiday Happiness family. After 15 years as a freelance graphic designer, Adam orchestrated a career pivot and now works for the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, where he gives free food to people who say they need it. Adam has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Employment

• Founder and Executive Director 1985-present of New Directions Travel, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation which provides holiday and travel vacations for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Founder and Director, Ashley House Supported Living, 2004-present
• Residential Supervisor, The Devereux Foundation, Santa Barbara 1977-1985

Public Recognition

• Non Profit of the year, Santa Barbara Mayor’s Award 2015
• Trailblazer of the Year, Women’s Economic Ventures 2004
• Goleta’s Finest: Human Services Professional of the Year, City of Goleta 2004
• Honored Professional, National Register of Who’s Who 2002
• Community Hero, Santa Barbara Independent 2001
• Special Recognition, Santa Barbara Special Olympics1998
• Outstanding Alumnus, University of California, Santa Barbara 1994
• Award of Commendation for Special Education Exchange, President Bill Clinton 1993
• Building International Relationships, President Jimmy Carter 1992
• Mark of Innovation Award, Travel & Leisure Magazine 1992
• Woman of Distinction in Education, Soroptimist International 1991

Community Involvement

• President, Bungalow Haven Neighborhood Association
• Pearl Chase Society

Personal

• Lived in Santa Barbara since 1974
• Married for 21 years to Steven Dowty, Principal Kruger, Bensen, Zeimer Architects
• One step-daughter, Mariette Dowty

Education
Graduated with honors in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara, 1976

Susie Williams creates educational toys for babies and preschoolers for LeapFrog. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from UCLA (Go Bruins) and a Masters in special education from NYU. She spent a few decades teaching and consulting before packing it all up for an itinerant existence, leading trips for Backroads and New Directions for four years, where she met the love of her life, Adam Hoffman. In her 30’s she finally settled down, married Adam, and created 2 kids, adding three capable and compassionate helpers to the list for her annual San Francisco Holiday Happiness trip, which she created and led for 22 years. She’s always kept one foot in education, working to infuse curriculum in all her LeapFrog toys as well as volunteering in the classrooms of each of her children. Susie’s passions are travel, yoga, creating and looking at art, and singing. She’s an alto in the choir at Calvary Presbyterian Church, where she’s also a deacon. She has been inspired by and dedicated to the mission of New Directions since the moment she led her first trip, back in 1997.