To Tina M. Ekblad, keeping a cool head in the face of criticism is imperative. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

“Generally, we are taught that our work is a reflection of ourselves. As a result, when we hear criticism about our work product and we equate it to criticism about us as individuals and often times don’t take it well. However, we have a choice in how we react to these situations,” the two-time Florida Gulf Coast University graduate says. “For a long time, I didn’t actually hear the words being offered and wasn’t able to react in a manner that enabled the criticism to be constructive. Learning to unpack what people were sharing and identify the positive elements that could be implemented the next time was a game changer.”

Ekblad values open conversations and collaboration, especially when it comes to working with other consultants on land-planning projects. By utilizing this strategy on multiple projects, more than 1,000 acres on private property in eastern Lee County have been preserved, which interconnect with existing public acquisitions to improve regional connectivity for wildlife and native habitat, while also providing development opportunities to support the county’s population growth.

Ekblad recently finished her second Half Ironman. She is a dedicated triathlete and has competed in numerous races, often finishing in the top of her age group. She is married to Mike and has a German shepherd named Bella.