July 2, 2025 • 11 mins
Paul Abbey is the founder of Rooted in Trees, a non-profit organization established in 2020 which works to restore and preserve the native tree canopy in Northern Ohio. Under his leadership, the organization focuses on community engagement and education, and undertakes major tree planting initiatives to combat canopy loss and enhance environmental health.
Prior to founding Rooted in Trees, Paul served as the interim CEO/President of Cleveland’s Holden Forests and Gardens, which includes the famed Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden.
Raised in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, Paul has always been an avid nature and wildlife lover. He graduated from The College of Wooster with a degree in Political Science and later earned an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace. His career spans investment banking and wealth management, culminating in his role as the founding partner of Fairport Asset Management (now HighTower Advisors LLC).
Today, Paul is also actively engaged in various community organizations, serving on the boards of The Viles Foundation, Highland Park Golf Foundation and The Cold Creek Foundation. He continues to serve as an active trustee (emeritus) for both The College of Wooster and The Holden Arboretum. Paul is married to Constance Norweb and together they have three daughters and are proud grandparents of five.
Prior to founding Rooted in Trees, Paul served as the interim CEO/President of Cleveland’s Holden Forests and Gardens, which includes the famed Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden.
Raised in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, Paul has always been an avid nature and wildlife lover. He graduated from The College of Wooster with a degree in Political Science and later earned an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace. His career spans investment banking and wealth management, culminating in his role as the founding partner of Fairport Asset Management (now HighTower Advisors LLC).
Today, Paul is also actively engaged in various community organizations, serving on the boards of The Viles Foundation, Highland Park Golf Foundation and The Cold Creek Foundation. He continues to serve as an active trustee (emeritus) for both The College of Wooster and The Holden Arboretum. Paul is married to Constance Norweb and together they have three daughters and are proud grandparents of five.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is iHeartRadio's CEOs you should know. I'm Keith Hotchkis
and today a unique and different edition of CEOs you
should know. We're talking about trees with Paul Abbey all Is,
the CEO and founder Rooted in Trees dot Org. Paul,
thank you for being with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
So. I think I know why we should have trees,
but I'd like to hear it from you. Why should
we care about trees? Why should we like trees? And
why should we be more invested in making sure trees
are a bigger part of Cleveland and really the country. Sure.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
So six years ago when I shared the company having
sold a business that I was in, it seemed to
me that Cleveland proper and the northern Ohio area needed
more trees because we used to be called the forest City. Right,
We've lost all that, unfortunately, So I'm here and started
a company that is trying to replace and add to
(00:53):
the tree canopy.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yes, the tree canopy is my understanding, is quite low
in Cleveland and even compared to peer markets. Is that correct? Well?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Absolutely? I think when we used to be called the
forest City, we were probably closer to fifty percent tree canopy.
And if you think what a tree canopy is like
opening an umbrella and that top of the umbrella is
the canopy and picture that canopy all around the city
of Cleveland A long time ago, fifty percent tree canopy coverage.
Today worth seventeen percent and dropping is my understand dropping.
(01:24):
But we have a goal, the Cleveland Tree Coalition, which
I'm a part of and the mayor is a part
of this s is the city of Cleveland. We want
to get to thirty percent tree canopy coverage in fifteen years.
That's a pretty heady goal. Is that realistic? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I hope. So yeah, how do you do it? Is it?
I mean everybody says one tree at a time, but
that sounds very challenging. How do you it is?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
But it is one tree to time. You've got to
raise some money. Trees cost money. You've got to find
the trees. You've got to get people to help put
them in. At our company, I use volunteers typically. We
just build a huge force at the Cleveland Metro Park,
soio it's the city of Cleveland. We put eight hundred
and fifty trees in in a week's time. Wow, that's
a big deal, and the educational benefits from that are
(02:06):
big because not only did we use eighth graders at
the urban community school, but treecrep from the whole narbretam
professional people who know how to plant trees. They acted
as captains with the students. But the whole point is
to get trees in the ground. So from our perspective,
it's education. You spoke a little bit about that, right.
(02:27):
We have a goal that's pretty high. It's one tree
at a time. It's going to take time. We got
to raise some money to do that, and we're doing that.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
How can folks get involved in you know, the foundation
Rooted in Trees, the company, where do we how do
they contribute? How to they be part of it? Right?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I do a monthly newsletter which I enjoy and send
to your Send to your email address and you can
send a pr Abbey at gmail dot com, or you
can send it a Hello at rootedintrees dot org.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Talking with Paul Abbey, who's the founder and CEO of
Rooted in tree Ease dot org talking about the Cleveland
tree canopy. I imagine not only the societal benefits, but
there's health benefits trees.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Right, absolutely, you look on the back of that card
you're actually looking at there. And one of the things
that I was talking about earlier to Ash here was stress.
I happened to live out not too far from the
whole Narbretum. Walking through woods, I feel the stress rolling
out of my body.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
I really do.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Unfortunately, in this country, one out of three Americans live
more than ten to fifteen minutes away from a green space,
a park, a series of trees, a grove of trees.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
That's not good.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So we need to reduce that. Cleveland's done a pretty
decent job at that of trying to get a park
or a district like that within ten minutes of every citizen,
and that's that's terrific. So stress is a big deal
to me. Being a part of nature is that. But
we do know that trees pull carbon out of the air,
(04:02):
right and that's why we did what we did at
the zoo, and we've even put equipment in place so
that we can actually show how much carbon is coming
out of the air on an annual basis. That's fantastic.
It's a big deal. Less carbon, less heat. There are
a lot of nasties in the air as well that trees.
(04:23):
Since they act like sponges. Pull that out of the air.
You go out to the Cleveland cleaning for instance, there
are a lot of trees out there. I think they're
there not only because it's beautiful, but it sends a
message as well.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
How do we square the circle between the lack of
affordable housing which needs lumber, and the need for trees? Right,
I mean, I'm engined. There are plenty of trees that
aren't suitable to build houses with that you could plant
and can be sustainable for wildlife. But how do we,
you know, continue to keep that balance.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Well, that's an awfully big question. That's a good that's
a good question. Surprisingly out of the blue a month ago,
contacted by the United Nations, they heard about the mini
forest project at the Zoo. They called me and they
are all involved with reforestation projects around the globe, and
they said, we'd like you to participate with us in
(05:14):
a number of zoom calls. We like you to get
your information on our rest store map that shows all
these reforestation projects around the world. But the big one
that's important to all of us is what's happening in
the Amazons, and reforestation needs to take place in the
Amazon because there's so many trees that are going away
(05:35):
because they're being timbered for housing, for fireplaces, whatever the
case may be. But we need trees, and I think
the word is out, but it's difficult. If you only
have one resource to fuel your home and it's a tree,
you're going to take the tree down. But I was
honored to be called by the United Nations and so
(05:58):
there's a big movement in place. I've never been called
by the United Sure, so that was a big deal.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Paul, tell us a little bit about your interests in
trees and how you mentioned Cleveland was the forest city.
Now the tree canopy has really been estimated. We're trying
to build it back up with a lofty goal. But
you know how just I mean, nature is important. How
did you get involved in Sure? Nature is really really important.
But I once rooted and trees started, I realized right
(06:25):
away that the pillars of our organization education, community engagement,
and getting trees in the ground. Ye, if all three
of those are in place, I'm a happy guy.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Right. So, it may be planning trees at a library,
It may be planning trees at a college campus. It
may be putting close to a thousand trees at Metro parks.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
But it's all about.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Education, not only from the planning side, but trying to
show people why did we plant what we did? What
are the benefits to you and to society. So that's
the educational side. You see it on the back of
my card there that I wish showing you earlier.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
If a resident or a community advocate, or a business
person in downtown Cleveland or in Cleveland in general wants
some trees, can they get them from you? How do
they get involved? How do they get trees in their neighborhoods?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Well, I think if the nurseries are doing a good job,
hopefully there are trees available, and then they can explain,
given your property and the type trees that you want,
what tree would suit your needs. But one thing I'll
point out. The City of Cleveland, working with the whole Arbreedian,
working with a West Reserve Land Conservancy and other interested
horticultural groups have created the Cleveland Tree Plan. Okay, the
(07:37):
Cleveland Tree Plan is a big deal, But inside that
are trees for the next fifty years. They have shown
and are showing you from fifty feet and over when
they're fully mature twenty five feet to forty five feet
and shrubs. They are showing you what trees they feel
giving a warmer climate, all the issues that are facing us,
(08:01):
all what trees will be best planted in your property
going forward. I would encourage all your listeners to look
at the Cleveland Tree Plan. You can do it on
our website. But it's also shows you the trees that
are native.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I like planting native trees. And probably three quarters of
the names on the list are.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Native native trees that are going to survive climate chains.
That's the romance of trees though.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
It is. They're going to have a better shake at it.
They're going to understand they're they've been around for so long, right,
they've seen a lot of ebbs and flows. So again
at the Zoo, we planted only native trees in shrubbery
and you know, subcanopy trees. So that's where I would
go as a Cleveland tree Plan, just to get an
idea before you go into that local nursery and say, hey, Joe,
I want to plant a tree in my back forty
(08:44):
what do you think You're already going in armed with
some knowledge, right.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I think that the hardest thing for us as society
is to think that far ahead. Right, You think you
plant a tree and it's not going to look impressive
for twenty years thirty.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Well, but there are some that grow very fast, and
maybe that's one of your criteria. I want a tree
that's going to do well, it's going to grow fast.
I maybe want an apple tree. I want to pull
some fruit off of my urban apple tree, for instance.
All different things that what you want. There are trees
out there. You're going to want to plant an oak tree.
You're not going to see it grow to be a
(09:19):
huge oak tree in the next five to ten years.
So you've heard the phrase in this business the best
time to plant a tree, which is twenty years ago. Yeah,
the second best time to plant a tree is today.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
That's correct. Well, you know that's and that's what I
bring that up because I can't I'm sure many people
have experienced this where you drive to your old childhood
home and you look at the tree that you planted
in when you were a kid, and now that you're
an adult, it's incredible to see. I can't imagine something
(09:53):
more unique, and that's a really special feeling, and you
feel pretty good about that. You do you do?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Absolutely so, I know exactly that feeling. And I'm not
going to see these trees grow up. I'm fifty years
from now, I'm not going to be around. But I
know it's going to be good, and i know it's
going to provide a lot of benefit to those who
are in or around that tree, and the educational benefits.
We all know. If you get a young person through
or fourth grade understanding trees part of nature, they're going
(10:21):
to be absorbed and love that the rest of their life.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Well, hopefully the listeners of this podcast will check out
Rooted in Trees at Rooted in trees dot org. Hopefully
you'll consider planting a tree or a few in your
neighborhood and hopefully you can try and think about the
nostalgic piece of that and in twenty years you'll drive
(10:46):
by or hopefully maybe even bike by. But to have
said it any better, thank you Paul. Paul Abbey, founder
and CEO of Rooted in Trees dot org. What an
interesting conversation and something that I think we can all
take from this. Trees reduce stress and that's something really important.
Thank you, Paul. Thanks for being here. Welcome and this
has been. iHeartRadio CEOs. You should know. Today's show is
(11:09):
produced by Bob coatesaid, I'm Keith Hotchkiss. We'll see you
next time.
This is iHeartRadio's CEOs you should know. I'm Keith Hotchkis
and today a unique and different edition of CEOs you
should know. We're talking about trees with Paul Abbey all Is,
the CEO and founder Rooted in Trees dot Org. Paul,
thank you for being with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
So. I think I know why we should have trees,
but I'd like to hear it from you. Why should
we care about trees? Why should we like trees? And
why should we be more invested in making sure trees
are a bigger part of Cleveland and really the country. Sure.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
So six years ago when I shared the company having
sold a business that I was in, it seemed to
me that Cleveland proper and the northern Ohio area needed
more trees because we used to be called the forest City. Right,
We've lost all that, unfortunately, So I'm here and started
a company that is trying to replace and add to
(00:53):
the tree canopy.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yes, the tree canopy is my understanding, is quite low
in Cleveland and even compared to peer markets. Is that correct? Well?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Absolutely? I think when we used to be called the
forest City, we were probably closer to fifty percent tree canopy.
And if you think what a tree canopy is like
opening an umbrella and that top of the umbrella is
the canopy and picture that canopy all around the city
of Cleveland A long time ago, fifty percent tree canopy coverage.
Today worth seventeen percent and dropping is my understand dropping.
(01:24):
But we have a goal, the Cleveland Tree Coalition, which
I'm a part of and the mayor is a part
of this s is the city of Cleveland. We want
to get to thirty percent tree canopy coverage in fifteen years.
That's a pretty heady goal. Is that realistic? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I hope. So yeah, how do you do it? Is it?
I mean everybody says one tree at a time, but
that sounds very challenging. How do you it is?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
But it is one tree to time. You've got to
raise some money. Trees cost money. You've got to find
the trees. You've got to get people to help put
them in. At our company, I use volunteers typically. We
just build a huge force at the Cleveland Metro Park,
soio it's the city of Cleveland. We put eight hundred
and fifty trees in in a week's time. Wow, that's
a big deal, and the educational benefits from that are
(02:06):
big because not only did we use eighth graders at
the urban community school, but treecrep from the whole narbretam
professional people who know how to plant trees. They acted
as captains with the students. But the whole point is
to get trees in the ground. So from our perspective,
it's education. You spoke a little bit about that, right.
(02:27):
We have a goal that's pretty high. It's one tree
at a time. It's going to take time. We got
to raise some money to do that, and we're doing that.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
How can folks get involved in you know, the foundation
Rooted in Trees, the company, where do we how do
they contribute? How to they be part of it? Right?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I do a monthly newsletter which I enjoy and send
to your Send to your email address and you can
send a pr Abbey at gmail dot com, or you
can send it a Hello at rootedintrees dot org.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Talking with Paul Abbey, who's the founder and CEO of
Rooted in tree Ease dot org talking about the Cleveland
tree canopy. I imagine not only the societal benefits, but
there's health benefits trees.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Right, absolutely, you look on the back of that card
you're actually looking at there. And one of the things
that I was talking about earlier to Ash here was stress.
I happened to live out not too far from the
whole Narbretum. Walking through woods, I feel the stress rolling
out of my body.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
I really do.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Unfortunately, in this country, one out of three Americans live
more than ten to fifteen minutes away from a green space,
a park, a series of trees, a grove of trees.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
That's not good.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So we need to reduce that. Cleveland's done a pretty
decent job at that of trying to get a park
or a district like that within ten minutes of every citizen,
and that's that's terrific. So stress is a big deal
to me. Being a part of nature is that. But
we do know that trees pull carbon out of the air,
(04:02):
right and that's why we did what we did at
the zoo, and we've even put equipment in place so
that we can actually show how much carbon is coming
out of the air on an annual basis. That's fantastic.
It's a big deal. Less carbon, less heat. There are
a lot of nasties in the air as well that trees.
(04:23):
Since they act like sponges. Pull that out of the air.
You go out to the Cleveland cleaning for instance, there
are a lot of trees out there. I think they're
there not only because it's beautiful, but it sends a
message as well.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
How do we square the circle between the lack of
affordable housing which needs lumber, and the need for trees? Right,
I mean, I'm engined. There are plenty of trees that
aren't suitable to build houses with that you could plant
and can be sustainable for wildlife. But how do we,
you know, continue to keep that balance.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Well, that's an awfully big question. That's a good that's
a good question. Surprisingly out of the blue a month ago,
contacted by the United Nations, they heard about the mini
forest project at the Zoo. They called me and they
are all involved with reforestation projects around the globe, and
they said, we'd like you to participate with us in
(05:14):
a number of zoom calls. We like you to get
your information on our rest store map that shows all
these reforestation projects around the world. But the big one
that's important to all of us is what's happening in
the Amazons, and reforestation needs to take place in the
Amazon because there's so many trees that are going away
(05:35):
because they're being timbered for housing, for fireplaces, whatever the
case may be. But we need trees, and I think
the word is out, but it's difficult. If you only
have one resource to fuel your home and it's a tree,
you're going to take the tree down. But I was
honored to be called by the United Nations and so
(05:58):
there's a big movement in place. I've never been called
by the United Sure, so that was a big deal.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Paul, tell us a little bit about your interests in
trees and how you mentioned Cleveland was the forest city.
Now the tree canopy has really been estimated. We're trying
to build it back up with a lofty goal. But
you know how just I mean, nature is important. How
did you get involved in Sure? Nature is really really important.
But I once rooted and trees started, I realized right
(06:25):
away that the pillars of our organization education, community engagement,
and getting trees in the ground. Ye, if all three
of those are in place, I'm a happy guy.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Right. So, it may be planning trees at a library,
It may be planning trees at a college campus. It
may be putting close to a thousand trees at Metro parks.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
But it's all about.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Education, not only from the planning side, but trying to
show people why did we plant what we did? What
are the benefits to you and to society. So that's
the educational side. You see it on the back of
my card there that I wish showing you earlier.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
If a resident or a community advocate, or a business
person in downtown Cleveland or in Cleveland in general wants
some trees, can they get them from you? How do
they get involved? How do they get trees in their neighborhoods?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Well, I think if the nurseries are doing a good job,
hopefully there are trees available, and then they can explain,
given your property and the type trees that you want,
what tree would suit your needs. But one thing I'll
point out. The City of Cleveland, working with the whole Arbreedian,
working with a West Reserve Land Conservancy and other interested
horticultural groups have created the Cleveland Tree Plan. Okay, the
(07:37):
Cleveland Tree Plan is a big deal, But inside that
are trees for the next fifty years. They have shown
and are showing you from fifty feet and over when
they're fully mature twenty five feet to forty five feet
and shrubs. They are showing you what trees they feel
giving a warmer climate, all the issues that are facing us,
(08:01):
all what trees will be best planted in your property
going forward. I would encourage all your listeners to look
at the Cleveland Tree Plan. You can do it on
our website. But it's also shows you the trees that
are native.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I like planting native trees. And probably three quarters of
the names on the list are.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Native native trees that are going to survive climate chains.
That's the romance of trees though.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
It is. They're going to have a better shake at it.
They're going to understand they're they've been around for so long, right,
they've seen a lot of ebbs and flows. So again
at the Zoo, we planted only native trees in shrubbery
and you know, subcanopy trees. So that's where I would
go as a Cleveland tree Plan, just to get an
idea before you go into that local nursery and say, hey, Joe,
I want to plant a tree in my back forty
(08:44):
what do you think You're already going in armed with
some knowledge, right.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I think that the hardest thing for us as society
is to think that far ahead. Right, You think you
plant a tree and it's not going to look impressive
for twenty years thirty.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Well, but there are some that grow very fast, and
maybe that's one of your criteria. I want a tree
that's going to do well, it's going to grow fast.
I maybe want an apple tree. I want to pull
some fruit off of my urban apple tree, for instance.
All different things that what you want. There are trees
out there. You're going to want to plant an oak tree.
You're not going to see it grow to be a
(09:19):
huge oak tree in the next five to ten years.
So you've heard the phrase in this business the best
time to plant a tree, which is twenty years ago. Yeah,
the second best time to plant a tree is today.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
That's correct. Well, you know that's and that's what I
bring that up because I can't I'm sure many people
have experienced this where you drive to your old childhood
home and you look at the tree that you planted
in when you were a kid, and now that you're
an adult, it's incredible to see. I can't imagine something
(09:53):
more unique, and that's a really special feeling, and you
feel pretty good about that. You do you do?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Absolutely so, I know exactly that feeling. And I'm not
going to see these trees grow up. I'm fifty years
from now, I'm not going to be around. But I
know it's going to be good, and i know it's
going to provide a lot of benefit to those who
are in or around that tree, and the educational benefits.
We all know. If you get a young person through
or fourth grade understanding trees part of nature, they're going
(10:21):
to be absorbed and love that the rest of their life.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Well, hopefully the listeners of this podcast will check out
Rooted in Trees at Rooted in trees dot org. Hopefully
you'll consider planting a tree or a few in your
neighborhood and hopefully you can try and think about the
nostalgic piece of that and in twenty years you'll drive
(10:46):
by or hopefully maybe even bike by. But to have
said it any better, thank you Paul. Paul Abbey, founder
and CEO of Rooted in Trees dot org. What an
interesting conversation and something that I think we can all
take from this. Trees reduce stress and that's something really important.
Thank you, Paul. Thanks for being here. Welcome and this
has been. iHeartRadio CEOs. You should know. Today's show is
(11:09):
produced by Bob coatesaid, I'm Keith Hotchkiss. We'll see you
next time.
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