Staff and Board

True Champions of Trees

Achieving the mission of TreesCharlotte requires a collaborative effort of volunteers, partners and sponsors. In addition to this incredible support team, TreesCharlotte is anchored by a staff and founding board that work tirelessly to make the TreesCharlotte vision a reality.

The TreesCharlotte Board provides strategic oversight and counsel for the overall efforts of TreesCharlotte. In this capacity, the Board serves as fiduciary for TreesCharlotte by raising private capital, establishing contracts with partnering non-profits, and supporting efforts to coordinate volunteer plantings, public education initiatives and general awareness campaigns, as well as guiding the work of the Executive Director.


TreesCharlotte Board of Directors


  • Thruston Morton
    Chair
    Founder, Global Endowment Management
  • Evan Bass
    Attorney at Law, Moore & Van Allen
  • Peggy Brookhouse
    Founder, Brookhouse
  • Todd Collins
    President and CEO, Red Hill Ventures
  • Tracy Dodson
    Assistant City Manager, City of Charlotte
  • Patrick Franklin
    Vice President of Special Operations, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories
  • Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe
    Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Duke Energy
  • Mary N. Hall, M.D.
    Chief Academic Officer and Senior Vice President of Medical Education, Atrium Health
  • Leslie Johnson
    Deputy County Manager, Mecklenburg County
  • Paul Kardous
    President, Row Architecture
  • Margaret Marshall
    Civic Leader
  • Susan McDonough
    Civic Leader
  • Susan McKeithen
    Civic Leader
  • Audra Nunn Tyree
    Construire
  • John Petrone
    President, SouthWood Corporation
  • Jennifer Reilly
    SVP, Head of Strategic Finance Business Partners, Mass Mutual
  • John Sherman
    William Blair
  • Stoney Sellars
    President and CEO, StoneLaurel
  • Chris Thomas
    Partner, Childress Klein

Meet Our Staff

Christian Battistini
Events and Volunteer Manager
Christian Battistini
Events and Volunteer Manager

704-840-3795
christian@treescharlotte.org

Contact me for:  All things that are events, logistics and volunteer related.

Favorite Tree: My favorite tree is not a specific one, but I love the mangroves in Puerto Rico off the coast of Maguayo, also called La Parguera. As a child, my favorite memories were swimming with my cousins in and around the mangroves. I enjoyed snorkeling to see the fishes and climbing around to find the crabs on top of their roots.

Jane Singleton Myers
Executive Director
Jane Singleton Myers
Executive Director

980-428-6469
jane@treescharlotte.org

Contact me for: All things TreeCharlotte

Favorite Tree: Weeping Willow (or Magnolia – can’t decide…!)

Heike Biller
Business Director
Heike Biller
Business Director

704-999-2699
heike@treescharlotte.org

Contact me for: Updating contact information and accounting questions

Favorite Tree: River Birch for its resilience.

Beth Brodie
Development Manager
Beth Brodie
Development Manager

704-293-4462
beth@treescharlotte.org

Contact me for: Corporate/Foundation/Individual Giving Opportunities

Favorite Tree: River Birch for its unusual bark, the shade it provides and beautiful yellow fall leaves.

Amber Forrester
Development and Marketing Coordinator
Amber Forrester
Development and Marketing Coordinator

704-781-8853
amber@treescharlotte.org

Contact me for:  Any inquiries regarding our social media or marketing initiatives.

Favorite Tree:  Bigleaf Magnolia. They are stunning with their large leaves (the largest simple leaves and the largest flowers of any tree indigenous to North America!) and not to mention-- they smell amazing.

Cameron Smith
Community Engagement Coordinator
Cameron Smith
Community Engagement Coordinator

704-914-6537
cameron@treescharlotte.org

Contact me for:  Treesilience!

Favorite Tree:  Longleaf Pine. They are a very strong and durable tree. Most importantly, they remind me of home.

Heather Brent
Community Arborist & Educator
Heather Brent
Community Arborist & Educator

704-914-6755
heather@treescharlotte.org

Contact me for:  Any tree questions or to request a speaking engagement or educational event.

Favorite Tree:  Deodar cedar. I love so many trees and I should probably pick one native to North Carolina, but the beautiful structure and giant swooping branches of the Deodar cedar fill me with awe.

Joi Mayo
Community Engagement Manager
Joi Mayo
Community Engagement Manager

980-477-0170
joi@treescharlotte.org

Contact me for:  Our CommunityWoods program and how your community, house of faith, or non-profit can host a tree planting event for 25+ trees.

Favorite Tree:  Dogwood; it reminds me of my childhood as we had several at our home and school gardens. 

Krysten Reilly
Director of Programs
Krysten Reilly
Director of Programs

704-237-0853
krysten@treescharlotte.org

Contact me for:  Any ideas, comments, or questions about our community facing programs.

Favorite Tree:  Eastern White Pine for its resilience, spectacular growth, and beauty along the coasts of New England, where I spent most of my life before moving to Charlotte.


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