Mitchell (Mitch) S. Rouse, former chairman/CEO of Taxi Systems, Inc. and SuperShuttle International, Inc. was raised in a family of five in San Pedro, California. Young Mitch worked with his father, John Rouse, in the transportation business, learning it from the bottom up and demonstrating a talent for management and innovation.

He attended San Pedro High School and Arizona State University and returned to California to join the family business. After the death of his father in 1977, he, along with his brother Dennis and wife Alice, grew the fleet of 30 to over 1,600 taxis in Southern California.

From the example set by his father, Mitch learned to care about the welfare of everyone in the company. In 1992, he began converting fleets to co-ops so drivers and management could buy equity interest in the business. Taxi Systems, Inc. is now the largest employee-owned, minority controlled taxi fleet in the United States.

Not satisfied with the status-quo, he saw a need for reliable airport ground transportation and founded SuperShuttle Transportation Systems in 1983. SuperShuttle is now a national company operating at 22 major airports across the country.

Mitch has given back in many ways. His resume reveals a long list of the organizations he has chaired, awards received, fundraisers promoted, community programs established and charities who received complimentary transportation. He and Alice open their home almost monthly, for charities to hold fundraisers providing important programs for our communities. Mitch is a family man who is proud of his five children and 12 grandchildren. And, he plays a mean game of Italian bocce ball.

In 2006 Mitch became a semi-retired gentleman rancher, living part-time in Cody, Wyoming.

DONOR ADVISED FUND As a past member of the MMCF board of directors, Mitch Rouse served as an officer. In addition, his philanthropic gifts to the MMCF have established a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). This type of fund gives philanthropic friends the opportunity to direct their ongoing support to specific programs, equipment or research at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center or Miller Children’s Hospital. To learn how a DAF might fit your philanthropic goals, contact Jim Normandin, MMCF President, at 562.933.1667, jnormandin@memorialcare.org or Devon Dougherty at 562.933.1673, ddougherty@memorialcare.org.