Posts Categorized: News

We’re fortunate to have Nathaniel “Nat” Draper on our Board of Trustees. He is currently the Executive Director at the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, and formerly served as the Director of Education at the James River Association. Prior to both roles, he spent 16 years teaching AP Environmental Science and Earth Science in Henrico County. He brings this wide breadth of experience and unique perspective to our Advancement Committee. In his spare time you’ll find him on the upper James River,

Meet a Board Member: John Crowder

January 2026

A lifelong gardener joins the Capital Trees Board, bringing deep roots, design insight, and a passion for the natural world that connects and calms.

We’re delighted to introduce John Crowder, one of Capital Trees’ newest Board members. John brings a passion for gardening and landscape design to the Board, along with years of experience in landscape maintenance and a strong belief in the power of gardens and parks to connect and restore communities.

Molly Anderson has been involved with Capital Trees since the very beginning, and is now serving her second term on our Board of Trustees. She brings legal experience to the Board, and has used it to help us navigate personnel and governance issues. She is particularly interested in helping foster our community engagement, and her long-term commitment to our work is a testament to her passion for our mission. Read our Q & A below to learn more about her and her perspective.

We’re happy to have Lee Mallonee as one of our new Board Members. Lee was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and has always preferred to spend his time outside. He sought out an environment-focused career that would allow him to do just that, starting out working as the Superintendent of Parks for the city of Wilmington, North Carolina before returning to Richmond where worked as a land planner/landscape architect. Lee is certified as a Professional Wetland Delineator and started a local company in the late 1980’s to provide wetland delineation and regulatory permitting,

We’re excited to feature Brian Kinnear, Treasurer and Capital Trees Board Member. Brian has been involved with Capital Trees in one way or another for a few years. He’s gotten his hands in the dirt during a volunteer workday with his previous employer and has served on multiple committees before joining the Board. Brian has spent many years as a city-dweller, giving him a keen perspective on just how important greenspaces are for those seeking respite from the fast-paced life in the city.

Capital Trees was honored to co-host, alongside the Richmond English Speaking Union, Mayor and Mayoress Pyne of Richmond upon Thames for a visit to Richmond, Virginia, including a tour of our Low Line project. This exchange highlighted the profound connections between our two cities, rooted in shared values for landscape strategies that promote resilience, vibrancy, and community well-being.

During the visit, we explored our mutual dedication to preserving and restoring vital natural landscapes.