John Blades

Executive director of the Flagler Museum

Why: Blades led a multimillion-dollar renovation of Whitehall that restored lavish glory to the iconic house museum. The museum, now a National Historic Landmark, also includes the award-winning Kenan Pavilion, built to house Henry Flagler's private railcar. This year, it won a Muse Award for Flagler's Florida, a booklet describing Henry Flagler's impact on Florida that was distributed to all fourth- and fifth-graders in the Palm Beach County school district. Blades is active in the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce and other groups.

Patrick Henry Flynn

President of Palm Beach Theater Guild

Why: Flynn has managed to make town officials, the legal system and developers take notice of his campaign to save the Royal Poinciana Playhouse. The Theater Guild he founded claims 500 members and has embarked upon a series of events designed to raise money and support for the cause of reopening the shuttered theater. Last fall, faced with possible injunction sought by the Guild, the theater's owner backed off a possible auction of some of the theater's contents and furnishings.

John Mashek

President, Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, private investor

Why: Mashek has been involved with the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach since its founding in 1981 and has served for more than 15 years as its president. He has been a catalyst in establishing the foundation as an educational institution for children and adults and an influential advocacy group. Last year, the foundation pledged $600,000 toward the restoration and maintainance of Sea Gull Cottage, Henry Flagler's first home on the island.

Gene Pandula

Architect, chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

Why: Pandula has led the town landmarks board to improve its diligence in reviewing proposed renovations and demolitions, including its unanimous vote last year to recommend that Royal Poinciana Plaza be landmarked. He is a frequent speaker on the topic of preservation and landmarking.

Jim Ponce

Historian

Why: Ponce, officially designated by Palm Beach as a "two-legged landmark," keeps the spirit and stories of early Palm Beach alive during the tours he leads through The Breakers and along Worth Avenue. Ponce also is the star of the documentary A Worth Avenue Story, produced by the Worth Avenue Association and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Institute. Ponce is a winner of the Judge James R. Knott Historical Contribution Award given by the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

Jane Volk

Activist, preservationist

Why: The widow of John Volk, one of Palm Beach's most prolific and versatile first-generation architects, continues to work to protect her husband's architectural legacy on the island, including the Royal Poinciana Plaza and Theater. She is former member of the Landmarks Preservation Commission and supports the John L. Volk Foundation, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach and the Palm Beach Theater Guild.