Stephanie Lee McDonald
Executive Director, Waller Creek Conservancy
 
Stephanie Lee McDonald joined the Waller Creek Conservancy after serving as Policy Director and Chief of Staff to Austin City Council Member Sheryl Cole. Stephanie is a strategic communication and public policy professional who has worked with both private and public sector clients in creating messages that spur action. Her work has managed crisis communication for Fortune 500 companies, developing messaging and communication campaigns for advocacy groups, and advising elected officials on local government policy issues. As an aide to Austin City Council Member Sheryl Cole, Stephanie generated stakeholder support for a $125 million intergovernmental financing agreement to construct the Waller Creek tunnel and spearheaded efforts for planning the district. Her policy areas of expertise focus on municipally owned utilities; land planning and zoning; transportation including the federal MPO policy board; municipal financing; economic development; and affordable housing and social services.
 
A graduate of Austin College in Sherman, Texas, Stephanie received the Heywood C. Clemons Volunteer Service Award in 2011. She has completed graduate course work in the University of Texas College of Communication. A freelance food writer, Stephanie contributes regularly to Texas Monthly.