ABOUT US

Forester, Arborist, and lifelong Tulsan, Richard is on board to speak for the needs of the tree throughout the process of elevating its stature in our community. Retired from a career managing the urban forest, Richard has been a volunteer and served with Up With Trees and other statewide organizations advocating for the care, preservation and promotion of Oklahoma’s urban forests.

RaeLynn A. Butler is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and serves as the Secretary of Culture and Humanities at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She oversees the tribe’s efforts to promote, protect, and preserve Mvskoke and Euchee language, culture, history, arts, and cultural resources. She served as the manager of the Historic and Cultural Preservation Department for nine years and has extensive experience with repatriation and sacred lands protection. RaeLynn earned a Master of Science degree in Botany and Plant Pathology from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Haskell Indian Nations University.

Cole is the owner of Mythic Press, which he founded in Tulsa back in 2015 and has been leading ever since. As the CEO of Mythic Press, Cole leverages over 15 years of experience in marketing, design, and e-commerce to drive the company’s vision and strategy. A proud member of the Tulsa community, Cole is committed to providing exceptional service to clients while supporting initiatives that enrich and strengthen the city’s vibrant culture.

Cody Dinsmore is a surety bond sales executive for American Surety with over 15 years of experience. Cody graduated from The University of Oklahoma in 2006 with BA in Public Relations and a minor in environmental conservation. Cody worked at Yellowstone National park in Wyoming and for the Bureau of Land Management overseeing recreational parks in central Oregon. Cody is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainability and lover of trees.

Carly Griffith Hotvedt, JD, MPA is a citizen of Cherokee Nation living on the Muscogee Reservation in Tulsa, OK and serves as the Executive Director of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative. She regularly interfaces with tribes and tribal organizations to advance tribal food sovereignty by empowering tribes to engage in regulatory governance, economic development, outreach, and investment into tribal food economies and individual tribal producers. Carly also assists in developing policy based on research, stakeholder feedback and analysis of issues critical to Indian Country agriculture for both tribal and federal adoption and application. Carly clerked for the late Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Marion Opala while in law school. She maintains a perfect success record in the Courts of the Cherokee Nation. She holds a Bachelors degrees in Agribusiness and Political Science from Oklahoma State University, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, and a Masters of Public Administration from OU-Tulsa. Carly was named one of the Tulsa World’s People to Watch in 2025 and was recognized by NCAIED in the 2022 Class of 40 Under 40. She currently serves on the Tvlse Council Oak Foundation Board and the scholarship selection committees of the Tribal Agriculture Fellowship and the Oklahoma Bar Association Indian Law Section. In her spare time, Carly wrangles her pack of dogs and occasionally hikes and travels with her husband with a goal of visiting all 63 National Parks (40/63 so far!).

Chris McCabe is a fourth generation Tulsan and has lived near Creek Council Oak Tree for seven years with his wife Erin and their five children. He serves as the President of Riverview Neighborhood Association and has been instrumental in the formation of this diverse team of Tulsans who are passionate about the protection, preservation and promotion of Tallasi. Chris believes deeply in the power of community engagement to impact positive societal change, to rectify historical trauma, and to create safe neighborhoods.

Hannah Middlebrook is a fourth generation Riverview Neighborhood resident who grew up with stories of the Creek Council Oak Tree through the years. Her grandmother, Mary Leech, fought alongside Chief Dode McIntosh to resist developers eager to cut the tree down, and learned from an early age that the tree should be treated with the utmost respect and care. Hannah, whose ultimate personal goal is to see Creek Council Oak Tree Park and Stickball park returned to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is thrilled to be a part of this group dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and protection of the tree. Hannah is the Executive Director of Operations at All Souls Unitarian Church, and mum of three young adults with husband, Chris.

Kate Ritchie is a CPA and Transaction Advisory Manager with experience in financial due diligence, M&A, and fractional CFO advisory. She works with business owners and investors on buy- and sell-side transactions, helping them understand financial performance, identify key risks and opportunities, and make informed business decisions. Through her fractional CFO work, Kate also partners with business owners on financial reporting and strategic decision-making to help create long-term value in their businesses. Kate is a Cherokee Nation citizen and lifelong Oklahoman who has called Tulsa home since 2025. She earned her BBA in Accounting from Northeastern State University and her MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Lauren is the editor of TulsaPeople Magazine and a fifth generation Tulsan. After graduating from The University of Tulsa in 2018, Lauren worked as the Communications Manager for Gilcrease Museum and Director of Communications for Tulsa Regional Tourism before going into PR consulting and journalism. Lauren is on the team to combine her love of nature with her passion for telling Tulsa’s story to those unfamiliar with the city’s diverse history.

Amanda Swope is the director of tribal policy and partnerships at the City of Tulsa, where she works with tribal, local, and state local governments to improve public services, strengthen collaboration across jurisdictions, and develop policies that better support the community. As the first director of the Muscogee Nation’s standalone tribal juvenile justice program, she developed the Nation’s juvenile code that prioritized community-based support over court involvement or detention. Amanda secured grants from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention that she used to grow the program's caseload from three cases annually to 1,500, and she expanded her staff from one to seven team members. She later served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2022 to 2025, where she introduced policy on missing and murdered Indigenous people and preserving Indian education.

Melissa Williams-Welch has been the lead Community Coordinator Native Raising Natives Project for the nonprofit organization The Euchee Butterfly Farm for the last 8 ½ years. Prior to working for the Euchee Butterfly Farm, she worked for the Muscogee Nation for 11 years in community outreach. She is Muscogee Creek and Cherokee, and a graduate of OSUIT & Rio Salado College. Melissa has always enjoyed being an advocate for her community & surrounding communities on the Muscogee Creek Reservation. She believes it is an absolute blessing to be a part of the TCCOTF team that shares the same passion to share the beautiful history and preservation of the outstanding Creek Council Oak Tree. She is excited to assist in native plant restoration and creating more pollinator gardens surrounding the tree. She enjoys spending time with her husband Mark & 3 daughters, loves watching her daughters play softball, hunting, gardening, and working on her 50-acre farm.

Bio coming soon!