FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 27, 2021) – Despite the challenges of 2020, Morris-Depew Associates wrapped up a banner year with the completion of several historic projects, three Summit Awards received by the Lee Building Industry Association at the 2020 Industry Awards, and the formal transition of its new executive leadership. Longtime team members and partners, Tina Ekblad, AICP, will serve as President and Director of Planning; Bill Morris, PE, has been named Chairman and Director of Engineering; and Ryan Shute, PE, will assume the role of Director of Operations.
A community leader and expert land planner, Ekblad has been recognized for her efforts on numerous prominent development projects throughout Southwest Florida as well as assisting municipalities with review, amendment and implementation of comprehensive plans and land development guidelines.
With more than 20 years of experience serving as a core leader in numerous civil engineering-related projects through the Southwest Florida region, Morris’ work has directly impacted the economic growth of the community, including job opportunities, commercial and residential development, healthcare, transportation, and more.
Shute has been leading client initiatives related to land development in the residential, commercial, public works, and institutional sectors for more than two decades. As a civil engineer, Shute has also been recognized for his efforts to navigate a project through the parallel multiple regulatory agency approval processes – beginning from conceptual design through construction completion.
“As longtime members of the MDA team, we’ve had the opportunity to observe, learn and discuss various ways in which we can continue to expand our services and enhance our multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to the land planning, permitting and design process that will best serve our clients,” said Ekblad. “In addition to ensuring continued operational excellence, this time has allowed us to re-evaluate methods, enhance budget forecasting and develop more robust service reporting to ensure project efficiency.”
Under the trio leadership over the last several years, Morris-Depew Associates has seen tremendous growth, welcoming new clients and integrating expanded services for others in the Destin and Delray Beach areas. The firm has also expanded the team in Fort Myers in response to growing engineering and planning department needs, and most recently announced Michael Rooks as the Director of Survey and incorporated Michael Ekblad, the Director of Landscape Architecture, into the firm’s Leadership Team.
Earlier last year, the firm also relocated its office in Northwest Florida. The new location accommodates the firm’s growing menu of services in support of commercial and residential development projects underway throughout the region, including the recent construction plans and preliminary plat approval for the 220-acre Milton Interchange industrial park near the airport.
“During such an unprecedented and transformational year, we are seeing a resurgence in development, continued investments in commercial and industrial, and a greater emphasis on environmental stewardship,” said Morris. “We have enjoyed rising to the challenge of designing and permitting the communities of tomorrow and look forward to the continued growth throughout this year.”
Celebrating over 30 years of serving Southwest Florida, Morris-Depew Associates is a multiservice consulting firm with specialties in civil engineering, land planning, expert witness, landscape architecture and surveying and mapping services. MDA’s efforts are based on a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to the planning and design processes, which emphasizes interaction within the firm’s allied professional expertise in conjunction with the client’s objectives and ultimate needs. The members of MDA have experience in the planning and design of a wide variety of urban, residential, commercial, industrial, recreational and community-oriented projects ranging from large-scale resort residential projects to urban community spaces and commercial multiuse developments.
For more information, contact 239-337-3993 or visit www.morris-depew.com.
