Associate Planner

Ashley Cepeda

Ashley began her career with McKenna as an Assistant Planner before transitioning to the role of Zoning Administrator for a local township. She has now returned to McKenna as an Associate Planner, where she provides invaluable support to communities by facilitating public engagement, refining zoning ordinances, administering boards and commissions, managing permitting processes, and conducting site plan reviews.

Ashley’s career spans both the public and private sectors of planning, highlighting her dedication to fostering connections between local officials and residents through community engagement and public participation. She is passionate about creating more equitable and accessible communities.

Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning with a Minor in Sustainability from Eastern Michigan University. Her commitment to the field extends beyond her professional roles; she has served as a planning commissioner in the communities she has lived in and was actively involved with the Student Michigan Association of Planning, where she contributed to organizing multiple conferences.
Outside of her professional life, Ashley enjoys spending time with her two children, tending to her flock of chickens, gardening, cooking, and food preservation.