Our People - January 2012

As a key next step furthering the HI-USA vision into a working strategy, CEO Russ Hedge has selected leaders for our Program Strategy Committee.  This team will lead the resource groups charged with developing coordinated strategies in our three key program service areas:  hostels, education, and community building. 

• Danielle Brumfit , Executive Director, Golden Gate Council, will serve as the coordinating manager, connecting and working with each group to ensure that strategies and objectives are in synch.  A passionate supporter of hostelling, Danielle turned a seven-month backpack excursion in Europe into a nine-year stint working in the independent hostel industry.  She has worked in every area of hostelling, from the front desk to the back office.  She joined Golden Gate Council as executive director three years ago and is excited about new opportunities to expand the hostelling experience at home and abroad. 
• Aaron Chaffee, Hospitality Division Director for HI-USA, will lead the hostels resource group.  Aaron joined HI-USA in 2002 as the General Manager of the previous HI-Seattle hostel. He moved to the National Office in 2006 as Director of Hostels and is a member of the Executive Team.
• Sue Schaffner, Executive Director, San Diego Council, will lead the community  resource group.  Sue has over 30 years experience working for non-profits, 20 of them in management positions for theatre and social service agencies including the North Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego Opera and Labor’s Community Service Agency.  An avid traveler, Sue first experienced hostelling when she backpacked through Europe and the Mideast after college. She joined HI-USA in 2001, finding the perfect fit for a nonprofit leader who loves to travel. In 2007, Sue received Hostelling International’s Champion Award.
• Deborah Ruhe, Executive Director, Eastern New England Council, will lead the education workgroup. Before joining HI-USA in 2002, she served as Executive Director of two health centers and as Director of Strategic Planning for a multi state organization. She has led numerous organizations in planning efforts that resulted in new facilities, programs and identification of new funding opportunities. She was a contributing editor for an international publication on "Learning to Think Strategically." In her free time she enjoys kayaking in Maine.

   Resource groups will include six to 10 experts within each service area, mainly staff and volunteers.   Nominations and self nominations will be invited in the next few weeks. The goal is to develop the strategies by mid 2012.