Cullen Whitley is a longtime North Carolina forestry professional and volunteer disaster response leader. An ISA Certified Arborist and North Carolina Registered Forester, Cullen graduated from NC State University's School of Forest Resources with a degree in Urban Forestry. He went on to build and operate a full-service tree care business spanning more than four decades.

Beyond his professional career, Cullen has dedicated considerable time to serving communities impacted by natural disasters. He leads a joint Early Response Team through Highland United Methodist Church and Avent Ferry United Methodist Church, working with the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church's Disaster Ministries program.

His team specializes in responding to hazardous tree situations following storms and other natural disasters, helping communities clear dangerous debris and begin the recovery process. Since Hurricane Matthew, Cullen has led dozens of disaster response mission trips, bringing trained volunteers and specialized skills to communities in need.

Cullen will share insights into the work of United Methodist disaster response teams, their experiences serving communities after major storms, and the importance of volunteers in helping North Carolina recover from natural disasters.