Non-profit

Kiley Miller Steps Down as Trees Forever President and CEO

Editorial Team
Published on: July 25, 2023

Kiley Miller has resigned from his position as the president and chief executive officer of Trees Forever, a nonprofit organization with a presence in Iowa and Illinois, dedicated to connecting people with the environment through tree planting and care. Miller served in this role for over two years before making the decision to step down.

The Trees Forever Board of Directors will now initiate a search to find a suitable successor to lead the Marion-based organization. During his tenure, Miller guided Trees Forever through challenging times, including the aftermath of a pandemic and a derecho. He also played a crucial role in managing the transition following the departure of the organization’s founder.

Under Miller’s leadership, Trees Forever made significant progress with the Growing Futures program, which employed youth to plant and care for trees, fostering environmental career awareness and equipping them with valuable job skills. Additionally, he oversaw the successful completion of the Marion campus redevelopment project, which emphasized conservation best practices. Miller also worked closely with the board and staff to implement a new strategic plan and fostered strategic partnerships with community collaborators.

In response to his resignation, Board Chair Lynn Manternach expressed gratitude for Miller’s hard work and wished him success in his future endeavors. However, specific details regarding the reasons for Miller’s resignation were not disclosed.

The board has appointed Deb Powers, the Director of Development, as the interim CEO during the transition period. Within the next two weeks, a search committee will be formed to expedite the process of finding a new CEO.

Before joining Trees Forever, Kiley Miller collaborated with the city of Cedar Rapids on the ReLeaf plan, aimed at reforesting the city following the devastating derecho in August 2020, which caused significant damage to the tree canopy. His departure follows his successful tenure as president and chief executive of Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corp. in Spencer.

Trees Forever and the city of Cedar Rapids continue to employ ReLeaf managers, Kent VonBehren and Carole Teator, respectively, who oversee their organizations’ ReLeaf programming, furthering their commitment to environmental conservation and community care.