Board of Directors

List of 12 members.

• 

  Ana Buraglia 

  Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation

  Executive Director non-profit

  Bio

  Born and raised in Miami, FL, I have spent summers on our family farm in Hendersonville since I was 10. In 2020, we decided to quarantine with our family in NC, and it quickly became clear that this was the place for us. We have loved living here and getting to know the Western North Carolina community. 
  
  

  Since 2006, I have served as the Executive Director of a non-profit Foundation, running daily operations and overseeing grant-making each year. Our mission is to help people create sustainable lives, with education at the heart of what we do. Personally and professionally, I am deeply committed to increasing equity in education. My work in the nonprofit sector has given me access to amazing people doing vital work in our communities, and it is an honor to support their efforts. 
  
  

  I look forward to participating on the Board at Hanger Hall, working together to achieve our collective goals in education as well as being a strong community partner. 
• 

  Katie Conner 

  Hanger Hall School

  Humanities/Spanish Teacher
• 

  Laura Hudson 

  Bio

  Laura Berner Hudson, AIA is an Asheville native and received her BA in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and her Master of Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona. She spent 10 years burnishing her skills in Los Angeles including six years for EYRC Architects, the 2015 AIA National Firm of the Year. Upon moving home to Asheville, Laura worked for PFA Architects for several years on a broad range of building types with a focus on educational, civic, and commercial architecture. Her passion for design emerges from the belief that architecture can impact people’s everyday lives - working with clients to create solutions that are contextual, functional, sustainable, and beautiful with an interest in new technology and building systems.

• 

  Tod Leaven 

  Leaven Law Firm, PLLC

  Partner

  Bio

  Tod is a father, husband, attorney, adjunct professor of law, and Army Veteran.  He first moved to Asheville in 1985 and is heavily involved with local performing arts.

   

  His pertinent expertise is in due diligence, fiscal responsibility, and corporate governance.  

   

  He is the father of both a Hanger Hall alumna, Eleanor, and a new student, Abigail.
• 

  Ricardo Martinez 

  Bio

  Ricardo is originally from Spain and has lived in Asheville since 1996.
  
  

  He likes to travel, bike and camp; he and his wife have undertaken several home remodeling projects in the past years in their off time.
  
  

  Ricardo has served as an Asheville police officer for the past 25 years, and is currently a sergeant over the recruitment unit.
  
  

  His career in law enforcement has equipped him with a deep understanding of community service and public safety, which he hopes to bring forward as a member of the board of directors.  
  
  

  Ricardo is the father of a Hanger Hall student and wants to make a positive impact on our school by supporting the education and development of all of our students.

   
• 

  Hallie Veteto 

  Bio

  Wherever Hallies goes, she aim to optimize the systems around her and make things easier for those she works with. She is deeply invested in whatever environment I find myself in, giving her full self to every task. Hallie thrives when trusted with responsibilities such as managing a team or communicating effectively with others.
  
  Hallie currently serves as a Sales and Marketing Associate for Bozzuto in Washington DC and is an alumna of Hanger Hall School.
• 

  John Volquez 

  Bio

  Growing up in the South Bronx, I never thought I’d go to college. Not because I didn’t want to or didn’t love to learn, but because going to college was not something that men on my block ever did. “Our history would be my future,” I thought. Dreams of what I wanted to be when I grew up were just dreams—I had no idea how to become a pilot, an airplane engineer, or even Will Smith. No one around me did either. We were wandering in the dark.

   

  When I was twelve, I got into a middle school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, De La Salle Academy. It’s a school for the academically talented and economically less advantaged. It changed my life. In a neighborhood not too far from my own, I saw alumni who looked just like me visiting from the best high schools and colleges in the country. That was to be me in a few years.

   

  How did I know? Because I could finally see it. The game plan. The blueprint. The way. And once I saw it, I dove straight in. Boarding school in Asheville. College at Yale. Job on Wall Street.

   

  This was progress, right? Eh, not really. A couple of years into my banking job, I realized I had lost sight of what I was doing it all for.

   

  I stepped away from the job and the paycheck and jumped into something completely different. I started to write a book about my people and my block in the South Bronx. I managed my best friend as he embarked on a career in music. I wrote a script for a full-feature film.

   

  I also became involved in education again. This time as an artist-in-residence and writing teacher at my old boarding school, a board member of Hanger Hall School in Asheville, and a traveling home-school teacher for a hilarious 13-year-old. I found my “why” again: to give back and create brighter futures.

   

  Today, I'm a partner at venture capital firm called Drive Capital based in Columbus, Ohio. I continue to work on screenplays and spend time in the music industry. I've now served on the board of Hanger Hall for three years — as the Head of the Equity Collective and more recently as Treasurer — and I look forward to continue helping recreate my academic experience here for our students.  
• 

  Katie Langwell 

  Hanger Hall School

  French & Drama Teacher

  Bio

  Katie Langwell has been teaching drama and French at Hanger Hall since 2007 has one of the best jobs in the world.  

  
  

  Katie grew up in Atlanta and went to University of Richmond, VA where she double-majored in French and Theatre.  After working for a theatre company in Richmond, freelancing as script supervisor in film production, and sneaking off to France whenever she could, she decided to hop a train and head to New York City.  While there, Katie helped run a theatre company, worked for HBO, and performed in many plays.  She also directed, wrote and performed for an all-women sketch comedy group.

  
  

  In Katie’s French classes, students perform skits, sing songs, create magazines, go on strike, belt out the national anthem, taste new foods, create weather reports, hold fashion shows, and play games!  Katie believes that the more fun her students have, the more they will learn.  The material becomes more challenging as students progress and by the time they leave Hanger Hall, most are able to start in French 2 in high school.

  
  

  In Drama, Katie’s classes are great for unleashing energy.  Through games, skits and improvisation, Katie works with the girls on becoming more comfortable in front of a group.  The girls all have a chance to “perform” in class every week and there is usually a lot of laughter.

  
  

  Many years, Katie also directs a school play and everyone is invited to participate.  Rather than focusing on a show that may feature one or two students, Katie tries to create shows where everyone has a chance to shine, and students are introduced to the idea of working together to create a fun evening of theater.  
• 

  Dan Brown 

  Bio

  My name is Dan Brown. I am a 46 year old parent of an amazing 7th grader, Asheville native, and small business owner. I grew up in Fairview, proud to be the 7th generation born in Asheville, Somer being 8th! I’m a big Sci-fi nerd, love Star Wars and Star Trek, but I also love the outdoors, camping and hiking.
  
  I am the owner of Asheville Technology Services, Inc. a business IT services and consulting company and have been working in technology consulting for small businesses for over 20 years. I work with over 100 local businesses, nearly half of them are non profit organizations. I have many years experience managing IT and helping with business planning, IT management and budgeting as well as coming up with policies and business continuity plans.
  
  While my daughter was at Haw Creek Elementary School, I served on the PTA all six years, and its executive council as secretary for the last three years. I also served on the Buncombe County School's Principal's Advisory Council for six years.
  
  Emily, Somer and I live in Haw Creek in East Asheville and are honored to be part of the Hanger Hall family. My father is personal friends with Howard Hanger and a lifelong member of the Jubilee church, so it’s been an amazing experience to now have a daughter in school at Hanger Hall. We love the outdoors and camping, but most of all our mission in life is to give Somer the most well rounded education and life experiences that we can, both academically, but also socially and culturally; especially as Somer has a vast interests in arts and music. Hanger Hall is a great fit for us, so I look forward to how I can help and serve the organization as a Board Member. Thank you for the opportunity!
• 

  Danielle K Parrish 

  Bio

  When my husband and I decided to retire in Asheville I was very blessed to find Hanger Hall and the amazing humans that work here. I retired after 5 years as the director of admissions and marketing but still wanted to stay connected to this unique and magical educational institution.

  I am honored to remain a part of the best all girls middle available for families in NC.  You will find me most days golfing, hiking or enjoying the perfect weather here with my husband.  

  
• 

  Chris W Dunbar 

  Blue Ridge Power

  CEO

  Bio

  Chris is the CEO of Blue Ridge Power.   
  
  He loves being on the forefront of the renewable infrastructure boom. Building projects and finding ways to lower cost and increase production are a passion of his.
  
  Chris' Areas of Expertise in Renewable Energy include construction team building and project execution, working with finance teams, supply chain and vendor partnership.
  
  Chris is the father to a current Hanger Hall Student, Harper. 
• 

  Rasheeda McDaniels Hall 

  Bio

  Rasheeda serves as the Supervisor of the Buncombe County Community Engagement Division. 
  
  Community Engagement serves as a liaison between the County and community to increase public awareness of and participation in County programs, services and initiatives. By supporting efforts to increase access, equity, inclusion, collaboration, and resiliency, Community Engagement seeks to create opportunities for positive change and thriving communities.
  
  Rasheeda is also the proud aunt of Ralissa, a current student at Hanger Hall School.