
Our Potomac Family
We work together to educate and inform our clients of industry trends, new laws and legislation, and market changes. Additionally, our employee benefits experts form valued and trusted relationships with clients, helping us fully understand each of our client's unique internal cultures, business environments, financial challenges, and strategic goals.

Joseph Appelbaum
President, CEO & Founder
Joe founded Potomac Insurance in 1990 with one guiding principle: to build relationships with clients, to exceed their expectations by providing exemplary service, support, and expertise, and to become the comprehensive source for clients’ employee benefits needs.
He has been an insurance practitioner for over 35 years and his experience in and knowledge of the employee benefit industry affords clients a unique and innovative approach to employee benefit selection. Joe is a subject matter expert on controlling healthcare costs, PPACA (healthcare reform), and HR issues. He speaks frequently at various trade association conferences and SHRM functions across the country. Joe is the thought leader, advisor, and chief analytics officer for all his clients.
Joe is a lifelong entrepreneur and started his first business at the age of 13 in Manalapan, New Jersey. He is an active member of the Association for Enterprise Growth (AEG) and is a founding sponsor of Executive Leaders Radio. Joe enjoys helping other CEOs and local business owners connect and collaborate with fellow leaders, and is a longtime philanthropist for Children's National Hospital Foundation, the Brain Tumor Society and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Joe attended Carnegie Mellon University and graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He resides in Rockville, MD with his wife and children.