Speakers

Chris has always taken every opportunity he can to learn about the world, and he believes that one of the most crucial aspects of society today is to create and maintain a stable, strong well-being for people across the world by improving healthcare systems, increasing access to medical resources/professionals, and overall allowing for the furtherment of scientific research. Chris’ goal is to become a medical doctor in the future, and hopes that this program will give insight into how doctors are able to work with their patients to create personalized treatment for patients through establishing personalized connections.

Chris has enrolled in several Advanced Placement and Honors courses, and he is familiar with connecting outside of school to make active choices in his educational development. He consistently participates in the school’s Model U.N. club and has attended several conferences for Model U.N. and Youth Model Arab League, the latter of which he received an award. He is also a member of the Technical Theater Production Crew at his high school, an active member of the Medical Minds Club, and is very comfortable advocating for himself when it comes to improving his educational experience. He also formerly engaged in the Community Service Student Leadership Team, where he served as Head of Marketing and Student Correspondence. Outside of school, Chris is an avid member of the DC Youth Orchestra Program, where he enjoys engaging with his peers to create music. He was also selected to join the organization’s Young Virtuosi Program, where he works in a small ensemble to not only engage in chamber music, but also serves as a promoter for the organization.

Patrick Butler is the Chief of the Upcounty Planning Division. He leads the master plan and development review teams within the Upcounty, which encompasses approximately two-thirds of the County and includes Potomac, Darnestown, Germantown, Clarksburg, Damascus, Olney, Ashton-Sandy Spring, Burtonsville, Fairland and the Agricultural Reserve. Patrick joined the Montgomery County Planning Department in 2007 and has been a resident of the Upcounty since 2008. Prior to joining the Commission, Patrick worked as a planner in Kittitas County, a predominantly rural and agricultural county in the State of Washington, working directly with natural resource and agricultural industries and communities. As a college student in the State of Washington, he worked multiple jobs within and related to the agricultural industry. Patrick is excited about the eclectic diversity of the Upcounty, which includes urban, suburban, rural and agricultural disciplines.

Recently retired from the University of Maryland after 36 years as a professor of Sociology, Joan’s current role as PCV president is a continuation of both her professional and volunteer lives. She joined PCV in 2013, after hearing that a new Village was forming in Potomac. She knew about Villages because of her professional expertise on population and aging, and, with a husband who was disabled, was pleased to find one that was close to home with potential to help them in the future. 

Joan has served as co-chair of our Programming Team, as vice-president, and most recently, as co-chair of our Membership Team. She also built the ties we now have with the Potomac Community Center by developing a Memorandum Of Understanding with the Center and the county’s recreation department, enabling PCV to hold meetings at the Center at free or reduced rental rates. 

As a professor at Maryland, Joan was a social demographer whose research focused on social changes in the U.S. related to population aging, health inequalities, and intergenerational relationships. She recently joined the board of trustees of the Population Reference Bureau, a non-profit research organization in DC which focuses on population issues both in the US and overseas.