Cedar Creek Planning and Communications is owned by Lee Ann Walling, whose cumulative professional experiences have taken her to a place where she can focus on what she truly enjoys: Helping communities and nonprofit organizations tell their stories and connect with the people they serve. Before founding Cedar Creek, Lee Ann was Chief of Planning for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Previously, she worked in the Office of Governor Ruth Ann Minner as senior advisor and policy advisor for environmental and quality of life issues. From 2001-2002, she functioned as Governor’s Minner’s Chief of Staff. She conceived and implemented the Governor’s Livable Delaware land-use agenda and advocated for the passage of several related pieces of legislation, testifying on the floors of both the Senate and the House. She understands politics on a statewide level and the regulatory machinery of DNREC. But because she was a broadcast and print journalist in a previous life, she never lost her skepticism and discontent with the status quo. In short, she didn’t make a very good bureaucrat. At DNREC, she worked with programs, engineers, scientists and planners in every division to coordinate the Department’s response to development projects and local government comprehensive plans. She also was assigned by the Secretary to work on high-profile projects such as the Gordons Pond trail in Cape Henlopen State Park, the redevelopment of the Historic Fort DuPont complex, and the creation of Conservation Opportunity Areas to highlight and prioritize Delaware’s most ecologically sensitive and valuable areas. She has unique skills for writing, presentation, graphics and video production — earning certificates in web and graphic design from the Delaware College of Art and Design in 2012. She built this website. She also earned an MBA from the University of Delaware in 1999. Lee Ann’s interests include travel, photography, electric guitar, digital keyboards, reading, and learning new things – such as learning to write and mix music and studying for and achieving her FAA drone pilot certification.