Who We Are

Our Team

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Baltimore Neighborhood Foresters

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Tyrah Cobb-Davis

Outreach Manager

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Dr. Kliffi Blackstone

Sr. Director of Neighborhood Forestry

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Azya Gibbs

Chief of Staff

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Madden Henning

Grants Manager

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Kajall Hylton

GIS Manager

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Leigh Johnson Schaefer

Neighborhood Forestry Project Manager

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Tyler Lewis

Tree Care Manager

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Sarah Settels

Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Member

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Bryant Smith

Chief Executive Officer

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Shannon Smith

Nursery Manager

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Dannielle Sturgeon

Sr. Director of Development

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Jules Swearingen

Development Coordinator

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Baltimore Neighborhood Foresters

Chris Ballard

Neighborhood Forestry Technician

Alonso Barrera

Site Prep Specialist

Eric Borchers

Neighborhood Forestry Technician

Tyriek Clark

Neighborhood Forestry Technician

Jahzeel Gainey-Smith

Tree Care Specialist

Allen George

Training Supervisor

Camerio Graves

Neighborhood Forestry Supervisor

Donald Jarvis

Neighborhood Forestry Technician

Quentin Klein-Alfano

Tree Care Specialist

Louis Middleton

Neighborhood Forestry Specialist

Bernie Rosenthal

Materials Assistant

Noah Scofield

Neighborhood Forestry Technician

Katrell Scruggs

Neighborhood Forestry Technician

Tori Smith

Neighborhood Forestry Technician

Davaugh Stokes

Neighborhood Forestry Supervisor

Jerry Washington

Neighborhood Forestry Technician

Adam Weingast

Materials Handler

Join Our Team

At Baltimore Tree Trust, we’re passionate about environmental equity, green thinking, and the power of diverse talents. We’re seeking individuals eager to learn, collaborate, and contribute to a greener Baltimore. If you’re ready to branch into the next level of your career, we encourage you to connect with us!

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Four Black men stand in a garden, smiling and laughing. They wear casual outdoor clothing and high-visibility gear, conveying a sense of joy and camaraderie.

Tyrah Cobb Davis

Outreach Manager

She/Her

Tyrah Cobb-Davis, a lifelong Maryland resident from Prince George’s County, enjoys nature and spending time outdoors. She joined the Tree Trust in the fall of 2023 to support outreach efforts that will help advance tree planting efforts throughout the City. Tyrah served an AmeriCorps term working with an urban tree planting campaign and is excited to continue working in the urban forestry space again.

She received a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science from Randolph College, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Geography and Environmental Systems from University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Tyrah has interests that span the urban environment, climate change, environmental justice, and so much more. She is excited to engage with the community to get people as excited about environmental initiatives as she is. Here is to making a difference in Baltimore and greening the city, one tree at a time!

Dr. Kliffi Blackstone

Sr. Director of Neighborhood Forestry

She/Her

Dr. Kliffi Blackstone joins Baltimore Tree Trust with experience spanning urban forestry, planting operations, and ecological research, and holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University. Her work is grounded in understanding how ecological systems function and applying that knowledge to real-world projects. She will lead forestry operations with a focus on collaboration, thoughtful implementation, and long-term stewardship to support a healthier urban canopy.

Azya Gibbs

Chief of Staff

She/Her

Azya Gibbs is an experienced executive assistant with a proven track record of several years in administrative roles with businesses ranging from startups to fortune 500 companies. Known as a passionate person who is willing to take on new challenges, she has found joy in streamlining processes and providing seamless support working closely with executives over the years. She is looking forward to serving as an essential tool in maintaining organization and increased efficiency.

Madden Henning

Grants Manager

They/She

Madden joined the Baltimore Tree Trust in the winter of 2024 after spending several years in civics education and arts & culture fundraising. Madden thrives on mission-driven work that examines, reimagines, and repairs broken and harmful systems and practices. They hold a BA in English Literature from Wesleyan University. As Grants Manager, Madden focuses on storytelling that secures and maintains the funding needed to further the Baltimore Tree Trust’s mission. Madden is a Baltimore transplant of almost a decade who promises they are not an invasive species.

Kajall Hylton

GIS Manager

She/Her

As an avid fan of Maryland, Kajall Hylton moved to the Baltimore area to complete her bachelors in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2023. Originally from the Silver Spring area her love for the environment started at a young age, she hopes to grow her knowledge of plant biology and forestry during her time at the Baltimore Tree Trust. As the GIS coordinator, she hopes to bring her experiences to help better serve Baltimore Tree Trust in serving the Baltimore community.

Leigh Johnson Schaefer

Neighborhood Forestry Project Manager

She/They

Leigh joined Baltimore Tree Trust in the summer of 2024, bringing experience in ecological restoration and wildlife research from across the country. Her previous work includes researching sooty grouse population trends with Oregon State University, establishing meadows at Lassen National Forest, processing data for the USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, and restoring sagebrush communities in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Although she primarily worked in remote and rural settings, Leigh is eager to establish herself in urban forestry. She recognizes that humans are intrinsic to ecological systems and looks forward to integrating the needs of Baltimoreans into project planning.

Tyler Lewis

Tree Care Manager

He/Him

A Washington DC native, Tyler supports BTT's mission with arboricultural and operational experience. He is a continued advocate for land stewardship rooted in sustainability, accountability, and climate resiliency.

Sarah Settels

Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Member

She/Her

Sarah is the 2025-2026 Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps member at Baltimore Tree Trust. Originally from DC, she graduated from Amsterdam University College with a Bachelor's degree in Science, writing her thesis on drivers of mangrove deforestation in El Salvador. This past summer, she worked on a climate warming research project in the Northwoods of Minnesota, measuring plant growth, physiology, and phenology. Interested in the interconnectedness between humans and ecological systems, she is excited to explore this relationship within an urban setting and develop hands-on skills after years of theoretical training. She looks forward to exploring the different neighborhoods of Baltimore and planting many, many trees.

Bryant Smith

Chief Executive Officer

He/Him

A native of East Baltimore, Bryant joined the Baltimore Tree Trust in 2019 after more than three decades in the urban forestry industry with the U.S. Forest Service, Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, and other regional environmental nonprofits. At the Tree Trust, Bryant leads our staff, stakeholders, and the organization’s Board of Directors to execute the organization’s strategic priorities. Bryant is a past Warnock Foundation Fellow, as well as a licensed commercial pilot, who founded an organization in 2015 to fly relief missions to victims of natural disasters.

Shannon Smith

Nursery Manager

She/Her

Shannon was led to our Neighborhood Forester Team in 2021 through her love of all things outdoors. An East Baltimore native and strong advocate for environmental justice, she is currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Baltimore with a specialization in Environmental Science. As Project Coordinator for the Tree Trust, Shannon works closely with planting teams to plan and manage the daily operations of our various project sites throughout the city. Shannon also assists with the organization of our warehouse tools, materials, and vehicles.

Dannielle Sturgeon

Sr. Director of Development

She/Her

Dannielle Sturgeon is a Michigan native who moved to Maryland in 2018 to pursue a career in fundraising. She has a strong background in strategic fundraising and has achieved success in a wide range of organizations, with a focus on arts, community development, and workforce development. Ms. Sturgeon currently serves as the Board President of Mind on Fire Baltimore and also holds the role of Vice President of Membership Services for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Maryland. She aims to utilize her passion for native gardening and fundraising expertise in her role as the Senior Development Director at the Baltimore Tree Trust.

Jules Swearingen

Development Coordinator

He/Him

Jules is a life-long Marylander and development professional with a background in nonprofit fundraising and donor engagement. His work is driven by a passion for environmental sustainability, social justice, and building more accessible communities for all.

Who We Are

Our Team

Jump To Section

Tyrah Cobb-Davis

Dr. Kliffi Blackstone

Azya Gibbs

Madden Henning

Kajall Hylton

Leigh Johnson Schaefer

Tyler Lewis

Sarah Settels

Bryant Smith

Shannon Smith

Dannielle Sturgeon

Jules Swearingen

Baltimore Neighborhood Foresters

Chris Ballard

Alonso Barrera

Eric Borchers

Tyriek Clark

Jahzeel Gainey-Smith

Allen George

Camerio Graves

Donald Jarvis

Quentin Klein-Alfano

Louis Middleton

Bernie Rosenthal

Noah Scofield

Katrell Scruggs

Tori Smith

Davaugh Stokes

Jerry Washington

Adam Weingast

Join Our Team

EMAIL SIGNUP

Tyrah Cobb Davis

Dr. Kliffi Blackstone

Azya Gibbs

Madden Henning

Kajall Hylton

Leigh Johnson Schaefer

Tyler Lewis

Sarah Settels

Bryant Smith

Shannon Smith

Dannielle Sturgeon

Jules Swearingen