Laska Ryan has a knack for knowing when a good thing is about to take off. The Florida Southern College communications major began in an entry-level public relations position with the Lee County Port Authority in 1993, just two months before the Southwest Florida airport became international.

SWFIA's growth has been swift ever since, and Ryan has followed its ascent through successive months and years of record-breaking passenger service. Today she is the port authority's senior manager of aviation marketing communications, and she's helping gear up for the much-anticipated expansion at the same airport. And as the transition nears, chances are you'll see and hear a lot more of her.

"I was really fortunate to join the airport at the time I did," she says. "And here we are on the cusp of another exciting time."

The $438-million project is scheduled for completion this spring, and the new terminal will more than double the size of the current one, which will be razed. Ryan has been busy keeping the area's consumers informed about the airport's growth while serving as a liaison for media, marketing and community outreach programs. "I'm hoping to ensure a smooth transition and make the public aware of the benefits," she says of the changeover.

Ryan's post-graduate employment began in advertising, but she quickly realized she wanted something "more challenging and multifaceted." With most of her family residing in Fort Myers, where she has lived most her life, she contacted the port authority about a PR position, and began her decade-plus tenure there.

"I think the airport's very important to this area," she says. "It's kind of the fuel that drives this economic engine."

She also touts plans for a new terminal at Page Field in Fort Myers. "It's really experienced a renaissance over the past several years," she says of the general aviation facility, a former Army air base.

Ryan's history in this region gives her a unique perspective on the population explosion Southwest Florida is experiencing. "We've always known it's a popular area, but it's just incredible to see the growth," she says.

But she believes the area can handle its rapid expansion. "I think the leaders in the area are committed to maintaining the quality of life. It's something everyone who lives here holds close to their hearts."

Quality of life is Ryan's favorite thing about living in Southwest Florida. She and her husband, Michael, moved here together after meeting in college.

The couple and their son, seven-year-old Andrew, spend their free time boating the Caloosahatchee on their cabin

cruiser, and even took a family boat trip to Key West."

"I think [the area] is family-friendly," she says. "It's a really great place to live and work and raise a family-and there's still a great deal of opportunity here in Southwest Florida." That means the sky's the limit for Ryan's career, which keeps her on her toes with its constant challenges. "Every day is exciting, and no two days are the same."

Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale.

Favorite Sports Team: Tampa Bay Bucs.

Current Reading Material: Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.

Honors: Named Public Relations Professional of the Year in 2001 by the Florida Public Relations Association's Southwest Chapter.

What Southwest Florida needs to better support business: Increased capacity on the roadways and more regional cooperation.