William Habacivch of Mechanicsburg, a Marine veteran, economist and college instructor, serves as VOPA’s new Executive Director, handling responsibilities that include fundraising, community outreach, personnel, construction management and the oversight of the therapeutic model.

Habacivch earned a PhD from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in administration and leadership, a master’s degree in economics from Temple University, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from University of South Carolina.

In 2015, Habacivch formed his own nonprofit, Sandbox Industries, along with other business professors who are veterans, to help them launch new veteran-owned businesses. He has taught business and leadership at Central Penn College, Harrisburg University, and HACC.

He and his wife Susan reside in Mechanicsburg. They have four children and three grandchildren. Both his father and son are also Marine veterans.

Angel McLaughlin, CADC brings more than a decade of experience in assisting those who are marginalized, underserved, and at-risk.

As a licensed substance abuse counselor, she has held roles that included primary counselor in a therapeutic community for the Maryland State Corrections system, providing residential women’s substance abuse treatment services; residential psychiatric rehabilitation services for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and a co-occurring substance use disorder; and as the clinical coordinator for the Veteran Opioid Support Services (VOSS) program.

In recent years, McLaughlin has worked toward the identification and development of resources for Veterans with high barriers and complex challenges. This includes outreach, community engagement, resource development, assessment, and provision of care to Veterans in a seven-county region of Southcentral Pennsylvania.

She also serves as the chair for the Veteran’s Collaborative Council for the Lebanon VA Medical Center, co-founder of the Capital Region Veterans Coalition including leading

several subcommittees. She is also a member of the York Vet Network and Adams County Veterans Advocacy Network.

A York County resident, McLaughlin received her bachelor’s in psychology from Pennsylvania State University and her associate degree in Addictions Counseling from Anne Arundel Community College. She is a current graduate student at Messiah University in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. Angel holds a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) license with the Pennsylvania State Certification Board.