Mission
Vision
History
Key Milestones in our history:
1995 — Carnegie Mellon report, Pittsburgh’s Urban Forest: Planting for the Future, is published, outlining the declining state of the urban forest and need for action
1998 — Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission (PTSC) re-established
2005 — PTSC commissions City of Pittsburgh Street Tree Inventory and Management Plan
2005 — PTSC launches early stages of the Tree Tender program
2006 — PTSC establishes Tree Pittsburgh
2007 — Tree Pittsburgh publishes an iTree Streets report based on 2005 Street Tree Inventory, quantifying the benefits that trees provide and establishing a cost benefit analysis for its care
2007 — Tree Pittsburgh takes over Tree Tender program
2008 — TreeVitalize Pittsburgh is launched at the Western PA Conservancy in partnership with Tree Pittsburgh, City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and PA DCNR
2010 — Urban Tree Canopy Analysis completed for Allegheny County
2010 — Tree Pittsburgh establishes the Heritage Nursery, a nursery where all trees are grown from locally collected seed
2011 — Tree Pittsburgh leads the creation of the City of Pittsburgh Urban Forest Master Plan, a 20-year road map aimed at protecting and restoring the City’s tree canopy
2015 — Western PA Conservancy and PTSC updated the City’s street tree inventory and management plan
2017 — Tree Pittsburgh commissions a new tree canopy analysis 2006–2016 which shows a loss of 10,000 acres of tree canopy across Allegheny County
2018 — Tree Pittsburgh breaks ground on its new campus on the Allegheny River in Lawrenceville that includes the Heritage Tree Nursery, offices, workshops, education center, and outdoor classroom
Favorite Tree
Eastern hemlock
(Tsuga canadensis)
Danielle Crumrine
Executive Director
Executive Director
For over 15 years, Danielle has worked in various capacities in the Pittsburgh environmental community. She has served as Tree Pittsburgh’s Executive Director for 10 years where she has led the organization through significant growth — including their current effort to transform a former steel mill site into Tree Pittsburgh’s headquarters, including a tree nursery, education center, and office building.
Prior to joining Tree Pittsburgh in 2007, she was the founding Board President and Executive Director of Allegheny CleanWays, a group dedicated to empowering people to fight illegal dumping and littering in Allegheny County.
Danielle was named a top 40 under 40 environmental leader across the state of Pennsylvania by the PA Environmental Council, and in 2011, she was a Board member for the Alliance for Community Trees — the only national organization solely focused on the needs of those engaged in urban forestry. In 2015, as ACTrees President, she led the merger of ACTrees with the Arbor Day Foundation where she now sits on the Board of Trustees.
Favorite Tree
Norway maple
(Acer platanoides)
Matthew Erb
Director of Urban Forestry
Director of Urban Forestry
As Director of Urban Forestry, Matt manages many of Tree Pittsburgh’s urban forestry programs including the implementation of the Urban Forest Master Plan. In his 10 years at Tree Pittsburgh, he has created numerous programs and executed the first installation of Silva Cells in Pennsylvania. He is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and an ISA Municipal Specialist with a degree in urban forestry.
Since 2009 he has served on the Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission. He served as the President of the Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council and is the former Treasurer of the PennDel ISA.
Favorite Tree
Black gum
(Nyssa sylvatica)
Jake Milofsky
Director of Tree Care and Reforestation
Director of Tree Care and Reforestation
As Director of Tree Care and Reforestation, Jake oversees tree maintenance operations in the field. Working with volunteer groups and seasonal staff, Jake coordinates projects to keep street trees healthy in commercial and industrial portions of the city where there is little Tree Tender support.
In residential areas where there is Tree Tender support, Jake works directly with neighborhood Tree Tenders to schedule and support their communities’ tree care through regular events like Mulching Parties and Pruning Workshops.
Jake is also in charge of Tree Pittsburgh’s reforestation projects along greenways where the tree canopy has been impacted by invasive species. To advance these projects, Jake organizes volunteers and staff to plant new trees and maintain these sites.
Jake holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Bucknell University and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Horticulture and Ecological Restoration from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Jake is an ISA Certified Arborist and an active member of the Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter of the ISA.
Favorite Tree
White Oak
(Quercus alba)
Joe Stavish
Associate Director of Education
Associate Director of Education
Joe helps to coordinate the Tree Tender Certification courses for adults as well as many youth programs in the community. Joe schedules and/or teaches many programs including garden club talks, visits to schools, summer camps, hosting scout programs, tabling at festivals, leading tree identification walks, and hosting nursery tours. He has presented at national and regional conferences including the Arbor Day Foundation’s Partners in Community Forestry Conference, and the Pennsylvania Delaware chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He has instructed facilities and grounds crew trainings at universities including Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, and the University of Pittsburgh. He is passionate about nature and incorporates insects, birds, amphibians, and mammals into many of the programs he facilitates.
Favorite Tree
Katsura tree
(Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
Megan Higgins Palomo
Heritage Nursery Director
Heritage Nursery Director
As Nursery Manager, Megan is responsible for developing and managing all aspects of Tree Pittsburgh’s Heritage Nursery, which works to address the issue of forest biodiversity by growing a diverse tree stock for local plantings and ecosystem restoration efforts. Megan oversees all propagation and sales efforts, and manages the nursery volunteer program. From seed collection to the continued production of nursery stock, she works to ensure the highest quality standards by using current best management practices.
Prior to joining Tree Pittsburgh in November 2014, Megan served as the Business Development and Design Manager at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens where she led the organization’s sustainability consulting initiatives. Megan learned the nursery trade by working alongside her father for many years at their family-owned nursery business, Michael Brothers in West Deer, PA. She earned her B.S. in Landscape Architecture with a concentration in Horticulture from Cornell University in 2007.
Favorite Tree
Catalpa
(Catalpa)
Nicole Moga
Operations Manager
Operations Manager
Nicole was hired in 2013 and she runs a tight ship. Her primary responsibility is to ensure that business operations are efficient and effective, and foster a productive work environment. When annual fundraising events are scheduled, she helps to plan, organize, and provide logistical support. her creative flair shines in our shop, where she has curated and designed logo merchandise sold to support Tree Pittsburgh programming.
She brings eight years of experience in community development, nonprofit management, and grassroots organizing to Tree Pittsburgh. A Tree Tender since 2009, she has helped to plant over 100 new street trees in her home neighborhood of Troy Hill and was our Volunteer of the Year in 2010. Nicole is passionate about environmental justice and her favorite tree is the catalpa (especially the ones on the river trail).
She earned a BAS in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 2004 and worked for years as a designer. When Nicole is not busy at work or volunteering, you can find her running with her dog, Ava, and renting boats to people through her business Boat Pittsburgh. She also serves as the secretary of the Pittsburgh Safe Boating Council and has been an active member since 2014.
Favorite Tree
Palm tree
(Arecaceae)
Kelsey Small
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Kelsey Small is the shared Chief Financial Officer for the Environmental Finance Collaborative with financial responsibilities for five organizations: Allegheny County Conservation District, Construction Junction, Grounded, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association and Tree Pittsburgh. Kelsey is responsible for providing operational financial expertise and oversight, budgeting and business planning, and adoption of best practices in financial management.
Most recently Kelsey was the Interim Director of Finance and Administration for the Carnegie Museum of Art, where she oversaw financial, fundraising, and organizational planning initiatives. Kelsey holds a Master of Arts Management Degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Florida.
Outside of the office, Kelsey enjoys exploring the city parks, baking, and gardening.
Favorite Tree
Sassafras
(Sassafras albidum)
Maggie Aupperlee
Manager of Marketing and Communications
Manager of Marketing and Communications
As Manager of Marketing and Communications, Maggie is responsible for all of Tree Pittsburgh’s communications including social media, press releases, and email newsletters. She also serves as support for all fundraising events including Arbor Aid. Maggie handles all event rentals and scheduling for our Riverfront Room on the Allegheny. She has been with Tree Pittsburgh since the fall of 2012.
Maggie came to Pittsburgh in the fall of 2010 to participate in the Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience. She has spoken at local and national conferences, including the Arbor Day Foundation’s Partners in Community Forestry Conference. A dedicated supporter and volunteer, she is a member of the Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience Board of Directors. She was named to The Incline’s Who’s Next in Communications in November 2016.
Outside of the office, Maggie is a baker, knitter, and avid outdoorswoman. You can probably find her camping in Pennsylvania’s state parks.
Favorite Tree
Sycamore
(Platanus occidentalis)
Kinsey Miller
Community Forester
Community Forester
Kinsey’s main responsibility as Tree Pittsburgh’s community forester is to provide technical urban forestry support to neighborhoods and municipalities across Allegheny County. Such support includes advocating for the value of urban trees, assisting communities with the development of strategic urban forestry plans, organizing tree ordinance workshops, advising and providing resources to shade tree commissions, and providing expertise on tree planting and care.
Kinsey holds a BA in environmental studies and worked as an urban forestry specialist and climbing arborist in the greater Philadelphia area prior to joining the Tree Pittsburgh team.
Outside of work, Kinsey enjoys dancing, cooking, fiber arts, and being outdoors!
Favorite Tree
Birch
(Betula)
Maura O’Neill
Director of Development and Communications
Director of Development and Communications
As Director of Development and Communications, Maura is responsible for overseeing fundraising, grant writing, communications and marketing at Tree Pittsburgh as well as helping to expand our education programs. Prior to Tree Pittsburgh, Maura managed fundraising and marketing programs at public media and health development organizations.
Favorite Tree
Coastal Redwood
(Sequoia sempervirens)
Erin Gaughan
Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator
Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator
As Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator, Erin is responsible for overseeing the volunteers who help make the work of Tree Pittsburgh possible. She also organizes tree giveaways and other special events for the organization. Erin started with Tree Pittsburgh in 2014 as an intern. After her internship ended, she went on to have various environmental education roles throughout the city and has returned to Tree Pittsburgh to take on this new role.
Growing up with woods as her backyard, Erin has always felt a deep connection with trees and strongly recognizes the benefits they provide to all life. Her natural curiosity and work as a naturalist has led to her study of organisms that have strong relationships with trees such as fungi, insects, and birds. Erin hopes to continue developing her naturalist skills and appreciation for trees as she helps the Tree Pittsburgh team expand our urban tree canopy.
Favorite Tree
Oak
(Quercus)
Clara Kitongo
One Tree Per Child Program Coordinator
One Tree Per Child Program Coordinator
Clara joins Tree Pittsburgh as the Program Coordinator for One Tree Per Child. She is a Master of Public Policy Management graduate from the Heinz School of Public Policy and Information Systems at Carnegie Mellon University. If she looks familiar, that’s because Clara is actually rejoining our staff after completing her first internship here in 2010! Since then, she has gathered a diverse array of skills through her working career as a former teacher, sustainability fellow with the Student Conservation Association, program coordinator at CMU, and a policy intern with the City of Pittsburgh. She also supports local volunteer initiatives and is a certified Tree Tender with us! Clara is excited excited to take on this new program that will bring multiple stakeholders to the table to focus on the most important stakeholder: the children and the future of clear air in our city.
When she’s not at work, Clara loves to be outdoors. She loves to take walks in the park and ride her bike on a good summer or fall evening. She is also an in-house musician, so be on the lookout for some work from her soon!
Favorite Tree
Coast redwood
(Sequoia sempervirens)
Matt Stanko
Nursery Operations Manager
Nursery Operations Manager
Matt joined Tree Pittsburgh in 2019. As Nursery Operations Assistant, Matt is a part of all things Heritage Nursery. This means he is instrumental in transplanting, watering, and weeding plants as well as collecting and processing seeds.
Matt is an Air Force Veteran and an Eagle Scout. He had 10 years of residential tree care and removal experience before joining Tree Pittsburgh.
When he’s not caring for the trees, Matt is an avid backpacker, cyclist, and kayaker.
Favorite Tree
White oak
(Quercus alba)
Oaklee
Events Specialist
Events Specialist
Oaklee started at Tree Pittsburgh in the fall of 2017, helping with family story time at Arbor Aid and Pawpaw Fest. At Tree Pittsburgh, it’s Oaklee’s job to make events more fun. Some might say Oaklee is just a mascot, but we know Oaklee brings so much more to the organization. Be on the lookout for Oaklee at Tree Pittsburgh events around Allegheny County!
A native of the oak trees on Flagstaff Hill in Schenley Park, Oaklee recently moved to Lawrenceville to work for Tree Pittsburgh. In their spare time, Oaklee climbs trees, jumps fences, and eats nuts and berries.
Board of Directors
Anne Franks
Chair
(Ret.) Executive Director, Institutional Advancement, University of PittsburghMichael Zimmerman
Treasurer
Regulatory Counsel, Duquesne Light CompanyFrank DeFazio
Director of Marketing & Customer Experience, Highmark Health and United Concordia Dental
Maureen Matlock
Accounting Supervisor, Schneider Downs
James Rooney
Vice Chair
Director of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, DICK’S Sporting GoodsJustin Berk
Senior Commercial Real Estate Underwriter
Dollar Bank, FSBTony Igwe
Principal, Wade Trim
Courtney Patterson
Marketing Manager, Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti
Mary Ellen Ramage
Borough Manager, Borough of Etna
Isabela-Cajiao Angelelli, MD
Secretary
Pediatrician/Assistant Professor, UPMC Children’s Hospital
Cofounder, One Tree Per Child PittsburghDarla Cravotta
Director of Community Relations and Special Projects, Office of Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald
Jerome Jackson
Executive Director, Operation Better Block Inc.
Matthew Plecity, AIA, ASLA
Associate Principal, GBBN Architects
