Ashley is an AICP-certified environmental planner and expert in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance for infrastructure. Her experience stems from assessing impacts of private and public projects with Cox|McLain Environmental Consulting, Inc., a company she co-founded and led as CEO for 15 years. After expanding to multi-state offices (Texas, Oklahoma, DC Metro) and 100 environmental specialists, CMEC joined Stantec in 2021. Stantec is a global professional services firm with 28k people in 400+ locations. Ashley steered integration then in 2023, she served as the Regional Business Leader for the U.S. Environmental Services 9-state Gulf Coast Region. With her governance team, she led 400+ specialists in coastal resilience, ecosystem restoration, cultural resources, energy transition, nature-based solutions, assessment and permitting. 

In November 2023, after 30 years in the environmental field and with legacy Cox|McLain staff firmly planted in key regional and national positions at Stantec, Ashley retired from consulting. She is exploring non-fiction/memoir writing, pursuing personal projects, and designing her next chapter. Ashley is a proud alumna of Stanford University and the University of Texas at Austin Community and Regional Planning program. She serves on the University of Texas Environmental Science Institute Advisory Council and volunteers for Forklift Danceworks.

Son Beckett is at Elon University and son Corbin is working in New York after completing undergraduate and graduate degrees at Stanford. Ashley’s husband, J.C. Schmeil, AIA LEED AP attended Stanford University and UT Architecture School and is in private practice.  Traveling with family is Ashley’s favorite hobby, followed closely by hosting dinner parties for friends. She loves music, skiing, yoga, and founded a book club in 1997 that’s thriving.

open to

Board positions

SPEAKING TOPICS

• NEPA

• Building and selling a woman-owned business