Catherine Kahl Linskey '09, President

Catherine grew up in Alexandria, VA and was a lifer at Potomac, as was her younger brother, Cameron ’12. After Potomac, Catherine attended Colby College, where she earned her degree in International Studies and was a member of the Colby Women’s Lacrosse team. Currently, Catherine works in for Global Impact, a nonprofit consulting group focusing specifically on corporate social responsibility, disaster relief, and employee assistance programming.

Catherine and her husband, Mike, live in Old Town Alexandria. Over the last year, Catherine has also served as a Vestry Member at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Old Town and serves on the Board of Trustees for the St. Paul's Episcopal Preschool. 

Lauren Wackerle Hardison '12, Vice President

Lauren grew up in Arlington, Virginia and attended Potomac from the seventh through the twelfth grades. Following Potomac, she majored in Political Science and graduated from Yale with distinction in 2016.

While attending Yale, Lauren was a four-year member of the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse team, served seven semesters as an editor for the Yale Historical Review, and completed summer internships in the US Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committee. After graduation, Lauren worked for Morgan Stanley in New York in the Global Capital Markets division and enjoyed volunteering as President of the company’s Fresh Air Fund in NYC. She returned to the DC area and is currently a Vice President in the Financial Sponsors and Leveraged Finance group at MidCap Financial.

Lauren is excited for the opportunity to engage with many former Potomac classmates and graduates as an enthusiastic member of the AGC!

Stephen Gavula '01, Secretary

Steve grew up in Mclean, VA and was a Potomac lifer along with his younger brother Dan ’03. After Potomac, Steve attended Vanderbilt University where he earned his degree in Economics and Human & Organizational Development.

Steve is currently Founder and CEO of Costa Tequila, LLC, a national liquor supplier with headquarters in Vero Beach, Florida. Steve is responsible for strategy and oversight in all business facets including production, distribution, supply chain logistics, marketing, and sales. Prior to his current role, Steve spent 16 years working on Wall Street in the Fixed Income trading divisions of three different banks. His focus was Mortgage-Backed Securities and Interest Rate Derivative products.

Steve lives in Bethesda, MD with his wife, Courtney, and their two children, Stephen and Valentina.    

Michael Amann '04

Mike graduated from Potomac in 2004 and was the graduation speaker for his class. He grew up in McLean, VA and was a Potomac lifer along with his older sister, Stephanie Amann Kapsis ’01. After Potomac, Mike earned a B.B.A. from The George Washington University and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Today, Mike is a Principal at Commerce Properties, specializing in the acquisition, management, and leasing of industrial and retail real estate in the DC area. Commerce Properties is an owner/operator with expertise in the development and management of large facilities and provides security personnel and superintendents.

Mike lives in Arlington, VA with his wife, Alison, and their two children, Tommy and  Abby. Mike’s closest friends remain his friends from his years at Potomac, and he looks forward to contributing to the Potomac community as a member of the AGC.
 

Shannon Gopaul Balser '01

Shannon grew up in Washington, DC and attended Potomac along with her brothers, Spencer '08 and Brandon '05.  After Potomac, she graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in Economics and American Studies and a Master's in Public Health from Howard University.

Shannon serves as the Chronic Disease Division Chief for the DC Department of Health and oversees program strategy, development, and implementation. She also serves as the Chronic Disease Director for the District of Columbia. Shannon has over a decade of experience managing, implementing, and supporting clinical research in chronic and infectious diseases in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.
 
Within the fields of clinical research and public health program management, Shannon has extensive experience in community engagement and addressing health disparities. Her passion for public health has been deeply rooted in addressing the needs of the underserved, from measuring the impact of the HIV pandemic on seasonal workers in Mozambique to the health inequities that plague the residents of DC’s Wards 7 and 8.

Shannon lives in DC with her husband, daughter who is a second grader at Potomac, and son.

Hamilton Brooks '18

Hamilton grew up in Lake Ridge, VA and attended Potomac from the fifth through the twelfth grades. He was a part of Student Government, serving as Potomac's Student Body President for the 2017-2018 school year. A graduate of New York University, Hamilton majored in History with additional minors in Sociology and Social Cultural Analysis.

He served as Field Director at Generation Vote NYU, the only student-led voting rights organization serving NYU's 27,000 undergraduate students. Hamilton also led social mobilization efforts for the 2020 election looking to raise student turnout from 49 percent to at least 55 percent. An Institute for Responsible Citizenship scholar - the premier fellowship for African-American men in higher education - he has interned with the NAACP, the ACLU, and a number of other social justice organizations. Hamilton plans to pursue a J.D./Ph.D. dual-degree and aspires to become a college professor and voting-rights organizer. 

Lele Chappell '07

Lele grew up in McLean, Virginia, and graduated from Potomac as a lifer in 2007. Her three younger sisters also attended Potomac: Lissie '09, Mariah '12, and Helena '14.

Lele attended Southern Methodist University, where she majored in Psychology and Spanish. During her time there, she joined a sorority, played club lacrosse, and studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. She later earned an M.B.A from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. Lele began her career in healthcare PR and has since held roles in marketing, product strategy, and finance at JP Morgan Chase.

Today, Lele leads Chase's debit card product strategy and recently moved back to the DC area after several years in NYC.

Mariah Chappell '12

Mariah grew up in McLean, VA right up the street from campus and graduated from Potomac in 2012 as a lifer. Her three sisters, Lele '07, Lissie '09, and Helena '14, also attended Potomac. Mariah earned a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Art History from Santa Clara University.

Mariah is currently enrolled in the Global M.B.A program at George Washington University’s School of Business as a Forté Fellow and is set to graduate in 2026. Previously, Mariah was the Director of Development at Story Force Entertainment, a film and television production company with credits including Spotlight, LuLaRich, and Shiny Happy People, where she oversaw the company’s slate of scripted and unscripted projects. Prior to that, she worked at Creative Artists Agency in LA and at New Leaf Literary & Media in New York City. Mariah returned to the D.C. area four years ago and currently lives in Old Town Alexandria.

Malcolm Dilley '07

Malcolm Dilley, a Georgetown native, attended The Potomac School and obtained a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at Franklin and Marshall College. After returning to Washington, Malcolm embarked on a dynamic career, starting at The National Gallery of Art in Philanthropy and Special Events and later serving as a Sales Executive at Susan Gage Caterers. In the fall of 2021, Malcolm joined The Roth Team at Washington Fine Properties, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his high-end hospitality career. Known for his tenacity and unwavering support, Malcolm forms enduring partnerships with clients through his understated yet deliberate approach to client relations and project management.

Outside of work, Malcolm is a dedicated host who enjoys entertaining, fostering connections, and planning travel. A lifelong weekender in Middleburg, he is passionate about horseback riding and the Virginia countryside. Currently residing in Georgetown with his husband, Alex, and their English Yellow Lab, Parker. Malcolm is excited about the opportunity to be part of the Potomac community and AGC once again.

Dan Doty '00

Dan attended The Potomac School from first through twelfth grades. Following Potomac, he graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in History, a minor in Political Science, and certificate in Markets and Management, Dan also played on Duke's lacrosse team.

Dan currently serves as President of Rushmark Properties, a real estate development and investment firm headquartered in Falls Church, VA. Prior to his time at Rushmark, Dan worked in commercial real estate in Manhattan for 17 years, most recently with Tishman Speyer, where he was responsible for commercial development in New York City. Before Tishman Speyer, Dan was a Managing Director at Hines Interests, responsible for development and acquisitions.

He resides in McLean, VA, with his wife, also a Potomac alumnus, and their three children, who attend Potomac.

Brendan Dwyer '15

Brendan grew up in Arlington, VA and started at Potomac in the sixth grade along with his two younger siblings, Molly ’18 and Malachy ’20. After graduation, Brendan attended Wake Forest University where he received a degree in Business and Enterprise Management. At Wake, Brendan served as the president of the club volleyball team and worked in the intramural sports department.

Currently, Brendan lives in Washington, DC and works as an analyst for JLL’s Law Firm Practice Group which represents tenants - mainly AmLaw 200 law firms - in their leasing of office space around the world. 

Claire Figel '13

Claire was born and raised in Washington, DC and spent four fantastic years in Potomac's Upper School. As a Panther, Claire was a 12-season athlete, playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, and served on the Student Athletic Committee (SAC) her senior year.

After Potomac, Claire attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, where she was involved in Student Government and the University Admissions Office. She graduated with distinction as a double major in Political Science and Spanish and took her interest in politics and international affairs back to Washington, DC.

Claire worked on the professional staff of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for over seven years. During that time, she also earned her Master's in Security Studies from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service. She now works at Amazon Web Services (AWS) on the Global Executive Relations Team in Arlington, VA.

Stephen Garibaldi '13

Stephen grew up in Arlington, VA and attended Potomac from the first through the twelfth grades along with his two younger sisters, Sophia '15 and Nicole '20. After graduating, he received his B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia and spent 2 years in Charlotte working at Jefferies in its real estate investment banking division.

He moved back to DC in 2019 to join the Meridian Group, a Bethesda-based real estate owner, operator, and developer, where he focuses on financial analysis to support the acquisitions and asset management teams.

Bridgett Hyde '19

Bridgett attended The Potomac School from seventh through twelfth grades, along with her younger brother David ’23. After Potomac, she earned her B.A. from Williams College, where she played field hockey and studied Economics and Psychology. As a recent college graduate, Bridgett now works in DC.as a Private Wealth Management associate at Morgan Stanley. She aims to enhance her skills and gain experience in the finance sector with intentions to pursue an MBA in the near future.

Kasim Khapra '25, Student Body Class President

Kasim is serving his second term as the Student Body President. Raised in McLean, VA, he joined Potomac in seventh grade and has a younger brother, Miqy, who is a current Potomac junior. In addition to his involvement with SGA, Kasim competes in Extemporaneous Speaking on the Speech & Debate team, is a member of  the Student Board of Investments, and is active with the Muslim Students Association. Kasim’s academic interests lie at the intersection of technology, public policy, and private investment, and he is part of the Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) concentration.

Outside of the classroom, Kasim founded and runs MyPy Coding, a 501(c)(3) that provides free, one-on-one, online coding lessons to students from low-income communities in grades 2 through 8. He also enjoys baking, playing the piano, weightlifting, and spending time with friends. 

Kate Choi '25, Senior Class President 

Kate grew up in McLean, Virginia, and is a lifer at The Potomac School. She serves as Senior Class President, Editor-in-Chief of the Current, captain of the Cross Country team, and principal cellist of the orchestra. Additionally, Kate is a peer tutor and a member of the Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) concentration..

Outside of Potomac, Kate is a passionate scientific researcher focused on addressing racial disparities in healthcare. She has invented an affordable device that diagnoses skin cancer across all skin tones.

Kate also co-founded Paws4Good, an organization that collaborates with local shelters to support animal welfare. In her free time, she enjoys baking, listening to music, and spending time with her family and friends.

Anna Laws '14

Anna grew up in McLean, VA, and attended The Potomac School from seventh through twelfth grade alongside her younger brother, Preston ’15. She then attended William & Mary, where she majored in Public Health and Spanish.

After graduating, Anna moved to Peru to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small, remote village in the Andes Mountains. Following her service, Anna earned her Masters of Public Health from Emory University, focusing on global food systems and climate change.

In 2023, she moved back to DC to join the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), where she travels all over the world pursuing her passion for working in global food security.

Gabriel Miller '16

Gabriel joined Miller Walker Retail Real Estate, a boutique retail and restaurant brokerage firm representing landlords and tenants in the Washington, DC area. He graduated from High Point University with a B.A. in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. Previously, Gabriel interned with JBG Smith, Kettler, Brick Lane, and Garrison Investment Group in New York. He was also selected as a 20 Under 20 Rising Star from Gen*Z, presented by Bisnow. At Miller Walker, Gabriel also oversees the management and production of custom marketing campaigns, demographic packages, and Matterport virtual tours. 

In his free time, he enjoys going to concerts, playing soccer, and cooking.

Ellen Overstreet '11 

Ellen grew up in McLean, Virginia, and attended Potomac beginning in kindergarten along with her brother Jack ’10. She recently retired from a 10-year professional ballet career in Houston and Sarasota while pursuing her degree in Hospitality Management at the University of South Florida.

Ellen moved back to DC in 2021 and now works for the Chief Executives Organization, the graduate program to YPO, as the Membership Engagement Manager. She oversees and manages all local events in North America and Canada. 

Gillian Price '15

Gillian grew up in McLean, VA, and was a lifer at The Potomac School. Her twin sister, Maddie ’15, and brother, Stuart ’09, also attended Potomac. After graduation, Gillian continued her education at Tufts University, where she earned a B.A. in International Relations and Chinese Language.

Currently residing in Boston, MA, Gillian works as a Senior Consultant at Vantage Partners, a boutique management consulting firm. In her role, she focuses on helping clients address their unique negotiation, influence, and collaboration challenges.

JP Young '15 

JP Young is a consultant in the Data & Services division of Mastercard, where he focuses on providing analytical insights to his clients. Previously, he worked as a real estate analyst for Peaceable Street Capital and participates in the Potomac School Real Estate Alumni Association.

A lifer at Potomac, JP was a member of varsity football, wrestling, and lacrosse teams and participated in the robotics program. After Potomac, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor's degrees in Economics and Finance.

Stefanie Thomas '03, Board of Trustee Liaison

Stefanie is a venture investor at Impact America Fund. She joined the firm in 2015 and is particularly interested in the network effects that propel bootstrapped entrepreneurs, a focus inspired by her father who overcame tremendous challenges as a low-income business owner.

Prior to joining Impact America Fund, sTefanie co-founded Quarterback Impact while also managing fund development for an impact investment evergreen project. In 2014, she led a 6,000-mile road trip across the US to meet and work with entrepreneurs who are focused on making an impact in their local communities. She co-founded and is an advisor for Women Who Launch, an organization that fosters a gender-equal entrepreneurial ecosystem and was recognized as an emerging voice of “Black Women VCs” by Fast Company.