Mr. Garapolo is a 38 year resident of Oak Park and a licensed Architect. He founded and is principal of the Oak Park architectural firm of Garapolo & Associates Architects. He has been involved in a number of AIA boards and committees over the years. He received the AIA Illinois Gold Medal in 2007 and was elevated to Fellow in AIA in 2009.
Mr. Garapolo has also been involved with a number of not-for-profit boards. Locally, he served as board member and President of the Board of Family Service & Mental Health Center of Oak Park and River Forest. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the agency in 2006.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation in Oak Park. The Foundation is responsible for raising money and coordinating restoration work for the 100 year-old
Frank Lloyd Wright building.
He has also served on a number of Village of Oak Park committees and commissions. His service as Chair of the Plan Commission resulted in the preparation of the Village Comprehensive Plan in 1991 which remains in effect yet today.