Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Strelkow.
Hi Deborah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Miami, my life has been filled with many twists and turns.
I married my high school boyfriend in 1984 and returned to South Florida. My first job was as a gallery assistant in an Art Gallery in Bal Harbour. From there, I worked as an office manager for Coronado Studios, a local film production company. In 1988, I discovered the new master’s program in Landscape Architecture at Florida International University. I delayed beginning the masters and took one year to learn tropical plant material, volunteering at Fairchild Tropical Garden during the day and attending night classes for a degree in horticulture at MDCC. That year paid off: I began my master’s in the spring of 1988 and was offered a position working for the head of the department, where I remained throughout the years of my master’s degree.
That same year, I separated from my first husband. I met my Pete, my current husband, the love of my life, immediately following my separation. We married in 1990 and have been working together for over 30 years. Though we have had some competitive battles typical of designers with strong ideas and opinions, we have developed a productive and comfortable working relationship. Pete focuses on planting design, and I focus on the hardscape design.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our life together has not been easy, but it has never been boring. As business owners, we made some mistakes and miscalculations and had some financial setbacks. Additionally, I had a series of miscarriages and surgeries between our two children, we lost several loved ones very early on – both close friends and family members – and both of us have had ongoing health challenges.
Nevertheless, now in our 60s we are happier than we have ever been professionally, with each other, and in our own skins.
We have a fantastic studio space at ArtServe with a supportive staff around us. Our little Pomeranian, Sasha, is the ArtServe mascot, and we love coming to work each day. Our children are doing great, we have a terrific condo in Lauderdale-By-the-Sea, a nice group of friends, and we travel frequently. I ride my horse 3-4 times a week, I paint, make jewelry, play piano, meditate and I am working on a book.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Through all the challenges and setbacks, I’ve learned that perseverance, hard work, and a positive attitude can make all the difference. Landscape Architecture is a wonderful career that supports sustainability and creates beautiful spaces for individuals, communities, and the environment. Most Landscape Architects are motivated by the desire to do good work for the environment and their community. As for me, I’m proud of the work I’ve done and the life I’ve built with my husband, and we look forward to many more happy and fulfilling years together.
Contact Info:
- Website: HS2G.net; www.Dstrelkow.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HS2GLandscapeArchitect/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/65510401/admin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTsyvZmR9Bs
Image Credits
Pete Strelkow
ArtServe
