Casandra “Cassie” Rauser has been named as the new CEO of TreePeople.
The decision to hire Rauser, a climate and sustainability strategist with over 13 years of experience and a current adjunct professor at Cal State Northridge, was announced last week. Her selection capped a two-year search for a new head of the nonprofit, following the passing of Cindy Montañez in 2023. During the search for a new CEO, the nonprofit organization was led by two interim co-executive directors.
“I am thrilled we have finally found our next CEO,” said John D. Bunzel, chair of the TreePeople Board of Directors, in a press statement. “Cassie Rauser has it all: experience, expertise, and true authenticity. There is no limit to what TreePeople can achieve under her leadership.”
Rauser, who holds a biology degree from Arizona State University and a doctorate in biosciences from UC Irvine, brings years of experience to her new role. She played a key role in developing the Los Angeles Mayor’s climate plan. She previously served as the executive director of UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, which aims to transform L.A. into the first fully sustainable megacity, focusing on energy, water, and ecosystem health. Rauser has reportedly extensive experience in strategically developing and funding major research and training programs, and also worked internationally, building partnerships among private companies, local and national governments, and communities to preserve public and private land.
“I’m truly humbled and excited to step into this role,” said Rauser. “TreePeople has been part of Southern California’s environmental story for over 50 years, and to be trusted to carry that legacy forward is an incredible honor. I see this as a moment to bring people together — staff, community members, and partners — to co-create the next chapter of what TreePeople can be for our region.”
Cindy Montañez Left an Example to Follow
Rauser also said she will honor the legacy of Cindy Montañez, who led the environmental organization for nearly a decade. During her tenure, thousands of trees were planted throughout the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles to grow into urban canopies of shade.
“I’m a big fan of the work that (Montañez) did and the way that she expanded the partnerships of the organization and the types of funding that could be attracted with those partnerships that have been super impactful,” said Rauser in an exclusive interview with the San Fernando Valley Sun/El Sol.
The TreePeople website highlights Montañez’s significant contributions, noting that she tripled the organization’s staff from 40 to over 125 and boosted revenue from $4.5 million to around $14.5 million during her nearly 10-year tenure. Montañez, who grew up in the city of San Fernando, where she served as Mayor and was a former California assemblywoman, also connected environmental and social justice issues, paying special attention and consideration to the conditions low-income communities face, which are disproportionately impacted by climate change.
Starting November 1 in her new role, Rauser will tackle the challenges faced by the region to find ways TreePeople can respond to the needs facing the region. Los Angeles and its surrounding areas are experiencing increased heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and severe wildfires. The San Fernando Valley is particularly affected by summer temperatures that can reach the triple digits.
TreePeople has responded to the issues of equity with the awareness that greening and tree cover vary significantly across neighborhoods in LA. Affluent areas, such as Brentwood, Los Feliz, and Pacific Palisades, enjoy approximately 40% tree canopy coverage. In contrast, lower-income neighborhoods like East L.A., South L.A., and the Northeast San Fernando Valley, including Pacoima, have significantly less tree cover, ranging from only 5% to 13%, which is among the lowest percentages in the city.
“There is a significant tree canopy drought throughout the region,” states Rauser. She notes that Los Angeles currently has an average tree canopy of 21%. The goal is to increase this average to 25% to align with other cities across the nation, or at least ensure that each neighborhood has a minimum of 15% tree canopy coverage.
“The intention, through TreePeople, certainly, is to take an equitable approach and to target and work in the communities that have the lowest percentage of tree canopy cover now,” said Rauser. “We need to ensure that those communities increase their canopy cover.”
Rauser brings her own strong experience to TreePeople
Rauser reaffirmed her commitment to the strong community relationships fostered by Montañez, “I am fully aligned with her vision of collaboration, particularly in public spaces. I also aim to partner with other local nonprofits and community-based organizations to leverage TreePeople’s experience in this type of work.”
More trees and access to green spaces have a positive impact on communities and individuals, from helping to lower energy costs to providing physical and mental health benefits, Rauser acknowledged. There is also a link between environmental and social justice issues. Neighborhoods with less shade “have been identified as disadvantaged communities,” she said.
TreePeople’s Concentrated Work in the Valley
“The San Fernando Valley is such a powerful example of TreePeople’s work in action,” Rauser said. “Right now, we’re partnering with local schools, cities, and community members to expand the urban tree canopy, create green infrastructure, and make neighborhoods more resilient to heat and flooding.”
At Pacoima Middle School, TreePeople was involved in the removal of over 14,000 square feet of asphalt and replaced it with green spaces that include more than 100 trees. “We know that especially in schoolyard situations, this significantly reduces the temperature that children experience,” said Rauser.
In Sylmar, TreePeople planted trees at the Hansen Dam Recreation Center, local schools, and distributed trees to residents.
Through the Calles Verdes program, TreePeople has planted approximately 1,000 trees in the City of San Fernando, working in collaboration with the local city. “That’s one really great program,” she stated.
Other LAUSD campuses in the Valley that have received leafy trees include San Fernando High School in San Fernando, Valley Oaks Center for Enriched Studies in Sun Valley, Patrick Henry Middle School in Granada Hills, Mulholland Middle School in Lake Balboa, and Northridge Middle School in Northridge.
Latest Effort
Just last week, TreePeople launched its Community Forestry program for the West San Fernando Valley that will distribute 5,000 trees to residents and plant 1,000 shade trees in public spaces.
The incoming CEO is aware of the financial, bureaucratic, and logistical challenges now facing TreePeople. “There’s always funding challenges, right?” she said. “So I think it’s important that we’re creative about the way that we fund (our nonprofit) and diversify the way we fund it.” Planted trees require long-term maintenance, she added, noting that many regulations can be cumbersome in making green spaces accessible to more people and ensuring access and safety around school grounds.
“My vision is to continue TreePeople’s legacy of leadership while expanding our reach and partnerships to ensure every community in Southern California has access to green space, shade, and the benefits of nature. Especially as we face climate challenges like heat, drought, and wildfire, our work must center on equity and resilience — making sure the communities most impacted are also the first to benefit.”