Staff

John Bright

Marketing and Communications Manager
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John comes from a long background of non-profit communications work with the Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity and AmeriCorps. He got his first taste of working alongside Trees Forever during tree plantings in partnership with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. John works out of the Marion, Iowa office and is responsible for much of the social media and communications you see coming from Trees Forever. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and enjoys sharing the accomplishments of Trees Forever and its supporters.

Melanie Diveley

Operations and Organizational Effectiveness Manager
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Melanie graduated from Mount Mercy University with a double Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management and Business Administration.  Before joining the Trees Forever team Melanie spent her career in banking operations and city government.  She is excited to be a part of the Trees Forever team as the Operations and Organizational Effectiveness Manager.  Melanie assists team members with perfecting processes, organizational improvements as well as Human Resource Management.  In her free time Melanie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and being in nature.

Jerry Fannon

Chief Financial Officer
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Jerry brings many years of experience to Trees Forever. He has a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Iowa. After 12 years in public accounting, he went on to become the CFO for three different banks in three states. Since returning to Iowa Jerry has been consulting with several local businesses while functioning as their CFO. Jerry’s duties with Trees Forever are to ensure that organization remains fiscally responsible and that employee policies are up-to-date. Jerry has been a H.S. basketball & soccer referee as well as college soccer referee for over 25 years, and is an avid University of Iowa Hawkeye fan. He also enjoys spending time with his four grandchildren.

Debbie Fluegel

Program Manager, Illinois
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Debbie has a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Maine. She manages Trees Forever’s Illinois Buffer Partnership and it Pollinator Habitat Conservation programs for both Iowa and Illinois. Debbie’s favorite part of her job? “Meeting new people and visiting a lot of unique areas in Illinois that most people don’t have the opportunity to visit.” Debbie is a member of the Environmental Education Association of Illinois, the Illinois Forestry Association, the Soil & Water Conservation Society and the Association for Temperate Agroforestry.

Jeff Jensen

Director of Community Programs
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Jeff is Program Manager for the Working Watersheds: Buffers and Beyond program and is Field Coordinator for northwest Iowa. He has a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and has worked in the field of sustainable agriculture for the past 15 years. He has over thirteen years of experience working with landowners and farmers growing perennial crops and is active with several existing organizations and partners, including the Iowa Nut Growers Association. He grows nuts and berries on his farm, NutHaven, in north-central Iowa.

Kimberly Krizan

Finance and Operations Manager
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Kimberly brings a strong background of finance management with over 9 years working with international, national, and local, non-profit organizations in the Cedar Rapids area. She is a Kirkwood Community College and Mount Mercy University graduate, with over 20 years of experience in accounting, payroll, HR & business management. She is excited to contribute this knowledge and experience to the TF team and its mission. Her favorite things include photography, being outdoors, singing, and time with family and friends.

Peter Lundgren

Southeastern Iowa Field Coordinator
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Peter earned an M.A. in TESOL from the University of Barcelona, Spain, and a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Iowa State University. He spent his early career working in the north of Spain, and the last ten years, working at the University of Iowa. Along the way, he had the opportunity to participate in a community garden group which sparked his interest in the development of green spaces. As a Trees Forever Field Coordinator, Peter is excited to put his interests into practice helping communities plant trees and bring their projects to life.

Kiley Miller

President & CEO
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Kiley Miller is the President & CEO of Trees Forever, a position he accepted in February 2021. Previously he led economic development organizations in rural Iowa. Mr. Miller has been a print journalist and served in the United States Army. A native of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Kiley now lives with his wife, Carry, in the Cedar Rapids metro area. They have two adult children and one in high school. Kiley is passionate about the Trees Forever mission and is leading the next five-year strategic plan in collaboration with the Board of Directors and Foundation Trustees.

Lexy Nelson

Des Moines Program Coordinator
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Lexy joined the Trees Forever family as a Des Moines Program Coordinator in August 2022. She graduated from Iowa State with a B.S. in Forestry and a minor in sustainability. Her passion for the planet and connecting people to the environment has led her to the Des Moines program coordinator position, where she has the opportunity to work with Growing Futures and volunteers across the metro to expand the urban canopy. In her free time, she enjoys spending her time outside in any facet or with her animals.          

Debra Powers

Director of Development
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Deb Powers is an Iowa native and a passionate development professional. For more than 25 years, she’s helped arts, human services, and religious nonprofits secure funding to support their missions. Prior to her role with Trees Forever, Deb served 23 counties in Southeast Iowa as the Development Director for Catholic Charities of Des Moines and spent 14 years in the music industry as an executive and development director. Deb’s degrees in liberal arts and communications serve as a foundation for fostering long-lasting relationships with donors, stakeholders, and community members. When not working, Deb enjoys fiber arts, reading, camping, fishing, traveling, and all the activities that come from being a mother to four children and grandmother to 14.

Lisa Renfer

Administrative Coordinator
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Lisa updates and maintains Trees Forever’s member and partner database. Prior to her time at Trees Forever, she worked nine years at Orchestra Iowa as a Patron Associate and also did the billing and payments for the Orchestra Iowa School. She has two daughters and enjoys taking walks.

Deb Roman

Program Support Coordinator
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Deb is best known as the voice of Trees Forever, as she is most often the person answering telephone at our main office in Marion.  Deb supports all the necessary administrative processes for hundreds of grant applications, awards and reports. Deb grew up on a farm west of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and graduated from Kirkwood Community College. She has a special place in her heart for her pets, the outdoors, and she thrives on hard work and helping others.

Megan Schneider

Director of Programs in the Des Moines Area
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Megan put down roots in Des Moines after earning a B.A. in Writing from Drake University and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington in Seattle. She embarked on a career in higher education and the nonprofit sector, most recently working in resource and community development roles for Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity. Megan joined the Trees Forever team in November of 2022, after serving as a TreeKeeper and community supporter for five years. She is an aspiring backyard berry farmer, self-identified bookworm, and mom to two beloved dogs.

Ben Vaughan

ReLeaf Project Leader
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Ben graduated from the University of Iowa In December 2021 with a degree in environmental policy and a minor in economics. He served as an AmeriCorps member at Trees Forever before coming on full time as a project leader. Ben largely works on the watering and planting of Re-Leaf plan trees. Outside of work, Ben enjoys cooking, spending time in nature, and playing guitar.  

Ellie Jones

Originally from Kansas, Ellie graduated from Coe College with a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science in 2023. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, bird-watching and working with animals! Following internships with Indian Creek Nature Center, and Lakeside Labs in Northwestern Iowa, she is excited to collaborate with Iowa communities and the Iowa DNR to aid in storm and pest recovery as the Community Disaster Recovery Coordinator.