People and Partners
Sara Tillie, Director
Sara joined the Cleveland Tree Coalition in July 2024 with a commitment to center equity and focus in on the connection between urban forestry and public health. She has previously served in the public sector at the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health and Lorain County Public Health. In her current role as the Director, Sara advocates for tree planting and maintenance, with a focus on community. She has a Masters from Case Western Reserve University and a Masters in Urban Planning and Development from Cleveland State University. Her favorite places to be among trees are on the Cleveland Metroparks trails and in the Adirondacks, in upstate New York.
Ryan Grzybowski, Communications Specialist
Ryan joined the Cleveland Tree Coalition in January 2026 with a passion for storytelling in the nonprofit sector, photography, and a commitment to the outdoors and trees. He has worked as an intern for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and Canalway Partners in Cleveland. With a focus on visual storytelling, he has his Bachelor's in Photojournalism from Ohio University and is currently pursuing a Master's of Business Administration in Strategic Marketing from Baldwin Wallace University. He loves to travel to the East Coast for vacation and explore national parks.
Summer Interns:
Caroline Baas, Summer Intern
Caroline joined the Cleveland Tree Coalition in May 2026 with a strong interest in the intersection of public health and the urban environment. She has previously worked as an intern at the City of Lakewood Department of Human Services at Cove Community Center. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning and Geographic Analysis, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She enjoys spending time at Seneca Lake in southeastern Ohio, following ice hockey, and bike rides through the Metroparks.
Max Bernhofer, Summer Intern
Max joined the Cleveland Tree Coalition in May 2026 with a passion for environmental justice, equitable urban planning, and the analysis of the benefits of urban trees. After receiving his Bachelor’s in Environmental Science from Cleveland State University, Max gained professional experience at a private environmental consulting firm before switching to non-profit conservation work with the Student Conservation Association. He is currently pursuing a Master’s of Urban Planning and Development at Cleveland State University, where he also works as a Graduate Assistant in the Levin College of Urban Affairs. He occupies his leisure time with music, cooking and riding his motorcycle.
Executive Committee Member Organizations
