Staff + Board
Bryant Smith, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bryant works with staff, stakeholders, and the organization’s Board of Directors to execute the organization’s strategic priorities.
A native of East Baltimore, Bryant was selected to lead the organization after a distinguished career as an Urban Forester with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks. In a career spanning nearly thirty years, he has served in senior leadership positions with the U.S. Forest Service and environmental nonprofits across the Chesapeake Bay region.
Bryant is a past Warnock Foundation Fellow, as well as a licensed commercial pilot, who, in 2015, founded and led Flight One Carriers to fly relief missions to victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Justin Bowers, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Justin oversees our staff and community partnerships to implement the organization’s core programs – Trees for Public Health, Urban Roots Apprenticeship, and Putting Down Roots.
Beginning his career at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Justin has over 8 years of experience in urban ecology and watershed conservation. While completing Master’s Degrees in Landscape Architecture and Conservation Ecology at the University of Michigan, he served as the chief caretaker of the university’s botanical gardens and arboretum.
Justin is an ISA-certified arborist and co-chair of the Baltimore City Forest Conservancy District Board.
Kwamel Couther, TREE CARE FOREMAN
Starting his tree-care and maintenance career at just 15 years old, Kwamel is now a self-proclaimed outdoorsman who loves to see his work grow.
Prior to joining BTT, Kwamel spent several years with Civic Works, Cylburn Arboretum, and a privately-held residential landscaping company. Kwamel was the recipient of the first annual Ed Miller Award and the 2015 Volunteer of the Year award from Civic Works.
Kwamel is currently completing his certificate in Sustainable Horticulture at the Community College of Baltimore County.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Margaret Baldwin
David Bramble
Christopher Feiss
Alex Fisher
Robert Gray
Doug Holthaus
Allan House
Chris Mfume
Joan Plisko
Thomasina Poirot
Ashley Principe
Mark Smolarz
Annie Umbricht
Chad Vrany
Michael Woollen
EMERITUS TRUSTEES
Jane Brown
Howard Cohen
W. T. Dixon “Dick” Gibbs
Barbara Shea
HONORARY MEMBER
Tom Horton
![Questions You Were Too Afraid to Ask / Our staff's best attempts at answering your toughest questions!
While Baltimore City is currently blanketed in snow, an even more unique phenomena is already preparing to descend in just a few short months -- Brood X, aka Periodical Cicadas, aka 17-Year Locusts!
After a long hiatus underground, these little "true bugs" will emerge for about 2-6 weeks beginning in mid-May to find a mate. At the height of the infestation, an estimated 1.5 million cicadas per acre are expected in some parts of the state!
While cicadas pose little to no threat to humans or animals, they can be quite a pest for trees - especially young ones, whose developing branches are an ideal diameter for females to lay their eggs on. Upon emerging, young nymphs drop from the tree's branches and burrow into the soil, where they will feed off of root sap until their next emergence.
Management is not necessary for mature trees, which are generally resilient to this type of damage. However, if you have younger trees - particularly ornamental or fruit bearing ones - you can cover the canopy in a small gauge plastic mesh (available at any hardware store) to prevent roosting.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit the University of Maryland Extension page [link in our bio]
Photo Credit: Michael Nagle, The New York Times
#BroodX #Treesaregood #TheMoreYouKnow #ForestConservation #CicadasGonnaCada #17MoreYears #TreesforPublicHealth @TreeBaltimore @RecNParks @DaveyTree @flowering_tree_trails
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