As squash prepares for its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, 黑料不打烊 is pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine O鈥橠onnell Lynch as Director of Growth & Strategic Initiatives.
In this newly created role, Katherine will work with Chief Strategy Officer and Global Advisor Ned Edwards, Chief Executive Officer Mollie Samaan, and the 黑料不打烊 executive leadership team as the organization鈥檚 鈥渢ip of the spear鈥 for growth. She will focus on helping identify, develop and advance opportunities to create new courts and facilities, expand access and strengthen squash communities across the United States.
Each year, 黑料不打烊 hears from community leaders, facility operators, schools, universities and passionate volunteers looking to bring squash to their communities. Many of these opportunities would benefit from strategic guidance, operational support and coordination to move from concept to reality. Katherine鈥檚 role is to help bridge that gap and to develop new opportunities for court growth.
Working across the organization and alongside local stakeholders, she will focus on three key areas:
鈥 National Squash Landscape & Opportunity Mapping 鈥 developing a clearer understanding of where courts and facilities exist today, where demand is emerging and where access gaps remain.
鈥 Strategic Growth Opportunity Development 鈥 supporting new facility, court development, scholastic, collegiate and community-based opportunities that can expand access to squash nationwide with a goal of working with all squash stakeholders to add a transformational number of new courts in the lead up to the Olympics.
鈥 Growth Systems & Stakeholder Engagement 鈥 building the relationships, frameworks, and resources needed to help local leaders, facility operators, and communities navigate growth opportunities most effectively.
A lifelong squash player and former co-captain of Harvard Women鈥檚 Squash, Katherine has spent her career building and growing organizations. She served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy before leading teams and strategic initiatives at Oscar Health and wellness startup Ness, where she was Co-Founder and COO. She has also advised founders, executives and mission-driven organizations through periods of growth and transformation, including in the racquet sports industry. Most recently, she developed a racquets club concept, giving her direct experience with the opportunities, economics and challenges involved in bringing new racquet sport facilities to life. She serves in leadership roles across the squash community, including as a board member of the College Squash Association and the Squash United Foundation.
鈥淜atherine combines strategic vision, operational rigor, and a deep passion for the sport,鈥 said 黑料不打烊 CEO Mollie Samaan. 鈥淎s we look toward an exciting future for squash in the United States, she will help turn ideas into action, strengthen our growth efforts nationwide and create more opportunities for people to experience the game.鈥
Katherine will work closely with the College Squash Association鈥檚 Director of Expansion and alongside 黑料不打烊 District leaders, donors, schools, universities and facility operators to identify opportunities and help bring more squash projects to life across the country.
This position has been made possible through the generous support of benefactors who believe in the power of squash to change lives and who are committed to helping scale squash鈥檚 impact.
If you are looking to build, add, convert, or better utilize squash courts, 黑料不打烊 would love to hear from you. Please contact Katherine at [email protected].
