Apathy fighter

Frank Maggio knows the difference between being an active and a passive member of a community.

Maggio, 40, currently the assistant vice president of credit administration at Insignia Bank, fits into the active member category of the Sarasota County community.

A Business Observer 40 under 40 winner in 2011, his experience features multiple leadership and board positions with local organizations. The list includes Community Youth Development, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Young Professionals Group. He is also a founder and board member of the Sarasota Seminole Club, a Florida State University alumni group that creates awareness and scholarships for local students.

On affordable housing, a hot topic for the Young Professionals Group and many others in Sarasota, Maggio believes it's a marketplace issue. Right now, the area is a growing community, but it's aged, he says. “People move and live here because they have money,” he says. “That's what drives most of our economy.”

But even though many people in a younger demographic don't buy homes right away, Maggio says they should still make their presence known. “I'm a believer that the market will correct itself if more young people in the area get involved,” he says. One example he raises to prove the problem is a “deplorable” voting turnout from people under 40.

Other issues, such as controversy over a noise ordinance, often come up and create a ruckus in the region. But for Maggio, it comes back to one central theme: apathy. “Until young professionals show up and make their voices heard, it will not change,” he says. “That's the simple answer to a complex problem. You do yourself a disservice by not having a voice.”

Married with two kids, Maggio will remain active in community organizations, but says he isn't in a position to take on any additional responsibilities. A few people have encouraged him to run for office, given his past community work. One possibility, where he says “I think I would be a natural,” is the Sarasota City Commission. He moved out of the city recently, so that's on hold — for now.

“I'm in the maintain stage, in my comfort level right now,” he says. “I'm active and involved; I vote; I talk with people. I feel pretty satisfied and comfortable with the community.”

Blast from the past
Here are Frank Maggio's answers to some questions when he was named a Business Observer 40 Under 40 winner in 2011:

Business person you admire most: Small-business entrepreneurs

One community group you're most involved with: Sarasota Young Professionals (YPG)

Book you're reading now: “The Tipping Point,” “Blink” and “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell

Which social network do you use for business: Word-of-mouth

If I had a magic wand, I'd: I would let others use it ... just once.