Gary Brady’s executive office is a cramped corner of an overflowing herpetarium-aquarium building. He is comfortable seated in his worn leather chair at his desk wedged between massive saltwater aquariums teeming with colorful tropical fish and temperature-controlled herpetariums accommodating exotic reptiles’ special needs for light and heat.

Lin Reading, a 20-year survivor of breast cancer and melanoma, co-founded a cancer support organization in Indian River County called Friends After Diagnosis that, among other things, offers survivors an introduction to the sport of crew rowing to help women with cancer regain their strength.

For Nicole Mader, going to her job hardly seems like work. It’s almost a mini-vacation. As a volunteer field biologist with the Dolphin Ecology Project, she studies and monitors Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the southern part of the Indian River Lagoon down to Jupiter Inlet. Aboard the Julie Mae with her dog, Salty, nearby, she carefully photographs and gathers data of those playful marine mammals who can tell us more about the health of our local waters.

Like father like daughter, April Price is a second-generation advocate for marine interests in Florida. She helps with the improvement and preservation of the waterways in the tri-county area.

The CAKE CREATOR With dueling mixers at the ready, Maria Lopez Ruiz is prepared to take on the task of constructing any kind of custom cake for any occasion. GREG…

The TREASURE SALVAGER KERRY FIRTH Taffi Fisher Abt, a partner in the family salvage business, had her father’s motto added to the sign outside of Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum and…

The RESCUER ANTHONY INSWASTY PHOTOS An avowed activist, Mindi Fetterman started The Inner Truth Project to provide a comforting and healing place for survivors of sexual violence. BY PATTIE DURHAM…