Men and Women of the Year

Describe your perfect day: I would choose my average day-read the paper, make my bed, touch up the house, blow the leaves off the deck, do laundry while doing bills, phone calls until 4 p.m., then go to my studio downstairs, stare, arrange compositions while listening to "All Things Considered." Take a break, go upstairs, fix a Johnnie Walker Black, return and change my mind about what I was playing with and go to work until about 10 p.m. Call Robert Rauschenberg-"What do you want to do for dinner?"-then join him to make dinner, eat, watch a little TV, say goodnight, then return to the studio to work until 4 a.m. Sleep until 10 a.m. and start all over again.

John Gleeson

A 39-year-old Chicago native and vice-PResident of the Brooks for the Bonita Bay Group, Gleeson has helped his development become one of the best-selling and most respected master-planned communities in the country.

You can quote me: I love to laugh. And I love to work with other people. My most rewarding times are when I can positively impact others, whether it is fulfilling our mission at work as a team or raising my children.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Personally, my greatest achievement is my family. My wife Michelle and I have a strong marriage, and we are blessed with two wonderful sons-Conor and Pierce.

How would you improve the quality of life in Southwest Florida? Improve our transportation infrastructure as soon as possible.

Who are your personal heroes?

Socrates, St. Ignatius Loyola and Coach Vince Lombardi.

If you could trade places for a day with another person, who would it be? Mick Jagger, lead singer for the Rolling Stones.

What is your all-time favorite book, film and song? Book: "Atlas Shrugged," Ayn Rand. Song: "Hot Rocks" album, the Rolling Stones. Film: Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? That I love to cook.

What are you most afraid of? Other than losing the rest of my hair, I have no fears.

Describe your perfect day: First base seats at Wrigley Field when the Chicago Cubs win the World Series.

Barbara Anderson Hill

This first-generation American (her parents were Norwegian) brings a tenacious spirit to her position as executive director/curator of The von Liebig Art Center in Naples.

You can quote me: I am passionate about life in general, and about contemporary art in particular. I am baffled whenever I have to delineate that which is work or that which is play.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Raising three happy, healthy, well-educated children, all of whom have achieved success not only in their professions but also as parents themselves and as responsible citizens.

How would you improve the quality of life in Southwest Florida? By continuing to bring to Naples exciting, innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions at the von Liebig Art Center.

Who are your personal heroes? The strong, fiercely independent, hardworking and courageous Norwegian women in my family, mostly my mom.

What is your most notable characteristic? Plays well with others.

What is your all-time favorite book, film and song? Book: "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," by Stephen Covey, and "Passages," by Gail Sheehy. Film: Anything by the Coen Brothers especially Fargo. Songs: Gorecki's Third Symphony, Ravel's "Bolero," Metallica's collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony and "Praise You" by Fat Boy Slim.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? I am a former Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival Queen.

What are you most afraid of? Wasting life's opportunities.

What gives you the most pleasure in life? The opportunity to live Joseph Campbell's challenge "Follow your Bliss."

Describe your perfect day: Every day is a perfect day when you live it to the fullest. It's an attitude thing!

Mariana Eileen Coto

As a 16-year-old single mother, she promised her father that she would go to college. This spring, Coto, 22 and a native of Costa Rica, became the first graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University.

You can quote me: My dream is to become a family nurse practitioner, while supporting a family of my own. My guiding philosophy is: Don't just make a living, make a life for yourself.

How would you improve the quality of life in Southwest Florida? I wish everyone were required to volunteer so they could see how other people live their lives. I would hope that this opened their eyes so that they would provide more support, love, and funds to individuals less fortunate than themselves.

Who are your personal heroes? My entire family. Without their love and support I could not have ever gotten this far.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I wish I could be stronger in standing up for my beliefs when others put them down.

What are you most afraid of? Growing old alone.

What gives you the most pleasure in life?

My son, Kaci (in photo).

Describe your perfect day: Wake up at 10 a.m. on a Sunday, make a big breakfast and read the paper on the porch while my son plays in the pool. Then go to dinner and catch a movie.

Brian E. Cobb

As chairman and a co-founder of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, this 56-year-old media executive has helped raise millions of dollars to improve life for local children.

You can quote me: I keep looking over my shoulder. God has been very good to me. My hopes for good health, a great family and financial success have all occurred. My desire now is to focus on helping others, especially children.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? The success of the Naples Winter Wine Festival in raising millions of dollars for local children was a great accomplishment for all of us who participated. I am particularly proud of that.

How would you improve the quality of life in Southwest Florida? Continuing to focus my energies in helping less financially fortunate individuals to have an opportunity to participate in a lifestyle that many of us already enjoy.

Who are your personal heroes? Children who shrug off adversity and strive to succeed.

If you could trade places for a day with another person, who would it be? President Bush-in order to understand the opportunities and difficulties of his position.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? More patience with others.

What is your all-time favorite book, film and song? Book: "Catch 22," by Joseph Heller. Film: The Lion in Winter, Song: "Yesterday," by the Beatles.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? I'm not laid back.

What are your most afraid of? I am most afraid of my children not taking advantage of all the opportunities that they can to reach their potential.

What gives you the most pleasure in life? Traveling to new places with my wife.

Describe your perfect day:

Eight a.m. mass, fishing in the morning, lunch with family, golf in the afternoon, dinner and wine with my wife, ending with cigars and good friends.

JoAnne M. Kuehner

This Pennsylvania-born philanthropist was a founder of Naples-based Hope for Haiti and regularly visits the Caribbean nation to help its children.

You can quote me: I am happy that I am in a position in my life where I can devote a considerable amount of my time and passion helping to make a better life for the poorest of the poor.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? My four wonderful children and the many lives I have touched.

How would you improve the quality of life in Southwest Florida? Make health care available to the less fortunate.

Who are your personal heroes?

My husband, Carl, and Mother Teresa.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I wish I wasn't the first in line when they were giving out noses.

What is your all-time favorite book, film and song? Book: "Tuesdays with Morrie." Film: The Sound of Music. Song: The Blue Danube Waltz.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? I am a 60-year-old Nana to nine grandchildren.

What are you most afraid of?

Not living up to my responsibilities.

Describe your perfect day:

Sipping coffee with my husband to the sound of chirping birds. Mass at St. Ann's Catholic Church. Work out with personal trainer. Lunch at Bistro Waterside with a contributor who agrees to donate $100,000 to Hope for Haiti. Work a couple of hours at the Hope for Haiti office. Spend a late afternoon with grandchildren and a quiet dinner at Campiello's with my husband, our children and their spouses. Off to the Ritz for dancing.

Fred Pezeshkan

The Iranian-born head of Kraft Construction hammers home his guiding ideals-dedication to family, business and education.

You can quote me: Life is such that, in order to succeed and fulfill your dreams, you need to have the passion to devote yourself to your goals.

How would you improve the quality of life in Southwest Florida? Give our children the best education possible. The higher the standard of education, the higher the standard of living around us will be.

Who are your personal heroes? My father. He taught me patience, honesty and how to set high family values. He also taught me how to enjoy the simple things in life.