Board Members

Impact of Trees and our Mission to Plant Along our Stream Network Through our Creek ReLeaf Program

Richard Roti, Esq. Chairman and President

Rick is an attorney and environmentalist who frequently writes and speaks on environmental and sustainable growth issues. Rick chaired the Charlotte Tree Advisory Commission for six years and worked as a consultant to American Forests for the Central Piedmont Green Initiative – an analysis of land cover change in the Charlotte region over the past 23 years.  Rick also led the projects that completed tree canopy analyses of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County published in 2003 and 2008 and led efforts that resulted in the adoption of a stronger tree ordinance in Charlotte. Rick holds a BS with honors from Florida Atlantic University and a Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from the University of Miami School of Law. Contact Rick.

RonRonald Shearin, Esq. Vice President

Ron served on the Charlotte Tree Advisory Commission for three years. He is semi-retired. His professional career included working as in-house counsel for Duke Energy and Wachovia National Bank. Ron received his B. A. Degree (With Distinction) from Duke University and his J. D. Degree from Duke Law School.

SteveSteve Copulsky Treasurer

Steve has been an environmental leader in Charlotte and North Carolina since the early 1990’s.  He has served as Chair of the local Central Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club and served as the Chair of the NC Sierra Club Chapter from 2015-2018.  Steve has been a member of the Creek ReLeaf planning committee for many years and took on the role of CPTF Treasurer in 2020.  He is a retired Arby’s franchisee and also worked for the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center as the Advertising Sales Manager.  Steve created and maintains a website for outdoor art in Charlotte (www.charlotteoutdoorart.org).  He has a BA in English from Bucknell University and an MBA in Marketing from the NYU Stern School of Business.

Dexter Snead

Dex is an engineer and worked as a business and technical consultant with Duke Energy in Charlotte. He is retired from Duke Energy after 37 years, and now does Tech Tutoring with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. He served on the Charlotte Tree Advisory Commission for nine years, leading the Trees for Change Program. Dex has also worked with American Forests, the NC Urban Forest Council, the NC Division of Forest Resources, Tree Charlotte, and other local, and national environmental clubs on projects promoting tree preservation. Dex holds a BS from Air Force College, BA from Belmont Abbey, and a MBA from Pfeiffer University.