Natalie Macris is an urban and environmental planning consultant, writer, and editor. Since starting her own business in 1991, she has worked with public agencies, consulting firms, architects, non-profit groups, and publishing houses.
Natalie is the author of two books published by the American Planning Association: Planning in Plain English: Writing Tips for Urban and Environmental Planners and A Career Worth Planning: Starting Out and Moving Ahead in the Planning Profession (with Warren W. Jones).
After earning a master’s degree in city planning at the University of California, Berkeley, Natalie started her career working as a city planner in local government and at a consulting firm in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In her day-to-day work, Natalie combines urban and environmental planning consulting with writing and editing of many different types of planning documents. Projects range from plans and large reports to guides, manuals, books, and web publications. Natalie has special experience with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), having worked as project manager, section preparer, and editor on CEQA projects for many years.
On editing projects, Natalie’s role is often to polish the writing while also providing a broader type of review. Tasks might include helping with format and organization, writing summaries, highlighting key messages, identifying issues that need to be resolved, or thinking through policy or political implications.
EDUCATION Master of City Planning
University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts, History (with Honors and Overall Academic Distinction)
University of California, Berkeley
PUBLICATIONS Planning in Plain English: Writing Tips for Urban and Environmental Planners
published by the American Planning Association
A Career Worth Planning: Starting Out and Moving Ahead in the Planning Profession (with Warren W. Jones)
published by the American Planning Association
MEMBERSHIPS American Planning Association
Association of Environmental Professionals