Officers

Rob Wolcheski, Acquisitions & Development, Roadside Development
President

Rob Wolcheski works in acquisitions and development for Roadside, a Washington, DC based real estate company that specializes in catalytic urban redevelopment projects and community focused placemaking. He is currently managing the firm’s City Ridge project, a mixed-use redevelopment of the former Fannie Mae headquarters just south of Tenleytown on Wisconsin Avenue.

Dan Rosenthal, CFO, HONK Technologies, Inc.
Treasurer

Dan Rosenthal has lived in Tenleytown for more than 20 years and has previously served as the treasurer of both the Janney and Deal PTAs, a member of the School Without Walls LSAT, and on the DCPS Chancellor’s Parent Advisory Panel. After working in and around technology firms as an engineer, management consultant, and venture capital investor, Dan has spent the past 15 years in various CFO roles in small, high-growth startups.

Karen Harris, Community Member
Secretary

Karen Harris is a performing artist, educator, and theater director. She has produced shows at schools in the DC metro area including at Jackson-Reed High School, Janney Elementary School, and Alice Deal Middle School. As a parent and staff member, she has served on multiple LSAT, PTSO, and citywide education committees. In her spare time, she consults as an attorney and project manager for individuals and organizations. Karen has lived in AU Park/Tenleytown for 23 years.

Directors

Said (Sam) Ziar, Owner, Le Chat Noir

With over 20 years of experience in managing all facets of running a restaurant, Sam and his
wife Marie and decided to open Le Chat Noir in Washington, DC in 2005 to create the kind of
restaurant that reflected their philosophy of hospitality and, mostly importantly, the spirit of a
classic French bistro. LCN is the ideal “corner” bistro with its inviting and warm ambience and
classic French cooking from Steak Frites to Normandy style buckwheat crepes. LCN seats 99
customers and is filled from Tuesday through Sunday with “regulars” who have been loyal
customers for over 18 years. LCN has been highly rated by the Michelin Restaurant Guide,
Zagat’s, and OpenTable.

Sam’s commitment to the community extends beyond his dining room. He participates in Food
& Friends’ (delivers food to those with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses) annual fundraising
event, donating 30% of the day’s receipts; sponsors local events at neighborhood schools – the
Janney Elementary School, Jackson-Reed High School, and the Tenley-Friendship Library; and
works in partnership with Friendship Place providing food and employment opportunities to
those experiencing homelessness. LCN is also an active partner with Tenleytown Main Street
participating in the annual Art all Night, Tenley HolidayLights and Bastille Day celebrations, as
well as other community events.

Michael Fitzpatrick, Partner, Brunswick Group

Michael is a lifetime Washingtonian who grew up in Friendship Heights and has been an AU Park resident since 2006.  For several decades, Michael has worked at the intersection of law, policy, and regulation at GE, the White House, and currently, at Google where he is Director of Strategy and Innovation.  Michael has a deep commitment to Washington’s arts, culture, and history, currently serving on the board of Woolly Mammoth Theater and as past board chair of Cultural Tourism DC.  Michael published an historical analysis of the emergence of the U Street corridor as America’s first great African-American business neighborhood.

Rink Battiata Kunk, Associate Broker at Compass

Rina Kunk has been selling real estate in the DMV since 2004 and is a Realtor/Associate Broker at Compass. She has lived in the American University Park neighborhood since 1992 with her husband Steve, where they raised their (now grown) three sons (4th generation AUPark family), who attended various DC local schools, including Janney, Deal, Wilson, School Without Walls, and The Lab School. Rina is a former teacher and social worker and brings those skills and more to her work with her clients.

Tim Lyons, Director of Innovation & Technology, Georgetown Day School

Tim Lyons has been working at the intersection of innovation, education, technology and the arts for more than 20 years. Tim currently works as the Director of Innovation at Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC where he manages the information technology team and serves as the chair of the Innovation & Computer Science department, and is the owner of Winged Anvil Productions. He has designed and implemented technology infrastructure for learning environments, developed interdisciplinary honors music curricula for high school students, facilitated leadership development and Design Thinking professional learning opportunities with small business leaders in developing nations, and toured the world playing pop, punk, rock, country and traditional Irish music.

Jamie Koppersmith, Real Estate Agent, McEnearney Associates, Inc.

Jamie Koppersmith has lived in Washington, DC since 1989, and has practiced real estate in DC, Maryland and Virginia since 2008. Originally a rocket scientist with NASA, he also holds an MBA from the University of Maryland and has owned several small businesses throughout his varied career. Jamie has lived in AU Park for the past two decades along with his wife, two kids and a snow dog (several actually).  His kids have attended local DCPS schools and he is an active member of the AU Park/ Tenleytown community. Jamie also is lead singer and rhythm guitarist for popular neighborhood band Growler.  Playing rock hits on both sides of Y2K and some classics from the 70’s and 80’s, Growler has played many parties and local establishments for the past decade.

Maximilian Bachmann, Owner, Verified Wines & Fine Spirits

Maximilian Bachmann founded Verified Wines & Fine Spirits in Tenleytown in 2021. He is also the co-owner of Bethesda Salt Cave in Bethesda, MD and has his own wine company, Sonor Wines, which he founded in 2017.

Executive Director

Noah Getz

Noah Getz is an entrepreneur and musician. In 2012, he co-founded Pictures on Silence, a non-profit organization in Washington, DC. As the Executive Director, he was responsible for programmatic oversight including developing, planning, and evaluating music and educational programming. In addition, he managed the organization’s finances including developing and monitoring the budget, maintaining government compliance documents, and creating progress and financial reports to assist the Board of Directors in governance, strategy, and accountability. He has significant experience in grant writing and has received funding from government and private granting organizations.