40 Under 40

Zapata volunteers with Catholic Charities and Collier County Salvation Army. He also supports the United Way of Collier County, in part because it provides health and nutrition education and other programs that benefit the Hispanic community. He’s also a strong supporter of the Florida Coalition against Human Trafficking and the Ricky Martin Foundation in combating human trafficking, which Zapata describes as a growing problem in the Hispanic community.

“I want to help others. I have this passion for journalism and to tell stories [that people can learn from],” he says.

Off the clock:
Earned his scuba diving license this year. “The fish look at you like you are an alien,” he says.