Niki Rapattoni is CAO and co-founder of Rapattoni Corporation, a leading software and technology provider to the real estate industry. The company’s Internet-based Rapattoni MLS multiple listing systems are used by over 100 MLS organizations across the country, representing approximately 230,000 agents. The Rapattoni Magic association management software serves 200+ local real estate associations, representing more than 90% of the nation’s Realtors®. Twenty-four state real estate associations also use the Magic association management software.
A graduate of USC, Mrs. Rapattoni co-founded the company in 1970 with her husband, Andy Rapattoni. As CAO she provides organizational and management skills to the administration of Rapattoni Corporation.
Email Niki
Tell me a little about you.
Andy, my husband of 46 years, and I started Rapattoni Corporation in 1970. We manage to do that and remain very much in love. We work together every day. In the early years, our board meetings were breakfast, lunch and dinner. Andy has always been the dreamer and visionary, and I was the person who could take charge and get things done.
How did Rapattoni Corporation evolve from its roots in the early days?
In 1970, we bought time on a huge mainframe and started with some very simplistic programs like a buying versus renting program. I think we were the first to put loan amortization onto a computer. We were selling services to real estate associations. Our very first customer was the San Diego Board of Realtors®. They became enamored with what we were doing and approached us to write their billing software. After that we started developing software for other industries. Meanwhile other boards of Realtors® started saying, “We want to do what San Diego’s doing, ; can you do it for us?” After about 10 years of working with the real estate industry, as well as hospitals, mortgage banking, the construction industry, property management, you name it, and with this engine and the technology moving forward so rapidly, we needed to tune into one area and move into a vertical market. We choose real estate because it was what we knew best; in addition, the industry wass so well organized that there was a board in every community. We sold mainly membership systems. Today, more than 85% of Realtors® in the U.S. belong to an association that uses Rapattoni management software and the San Diego Board is still our customer..
What is your role?
Organizer, and it’s always been that way. Andy has the vision. I always tease him and say “This computer thing is just a passing fad.” He’s the technologist in the family. I’ve always been good at management. It’s just natural for me.
What do you think is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Taking the company from 32 people to 135 in just seven years. We wanted to maintain a family atmosphere yet set the standard in the industry. We wanted to be number one and stay number one in customer service.
How did you do it?
We instill a lot of values in our staff. We say, “It’s hard to get a job at Rapattoni, but even harder to keep one.” We’re really demanding.
There are three things we tell our staff are really important: having a positive attitude; being a team player; and being competent. They have to have all three of those in balance. If they don’t have those in balance they won’t be a good fit, and fit is what it’s all about.
How do you instill those three values?
I give a series of 10 one-hour presentations over several weeks to all new staff. It’s like the big sign outside of a university football stadium that says, “This football team is not for the weak or faint of heart.” Well, this company is not for the weak or faint of heart. You’ve got to take ownership of your job. Be proud of what you do and love what you do. That’s what it’s all about.
What was the highlight of your career?
The day we landed our first MLS customer after everyone told us we were nuts going into the MLS business. That was the first time we ventured outside of membership management software. We had hoped to have about 5% of the market by this time, and we actually have 20%.
Thirty-six years in business with your husband – how did you manage that?
You have to like each other, not just love each other. I can’t do what he does, and he doesn’t want to do what I do. We make good partners. We are an ultimate team.
You have to love what you do. There can’t be two sets of rules for what you do in your business life and your personal life. Forty-six years ago we agreed to disagree. We can have differences in opinion yet still move forward.
What is your secret for a long, successful career as partners with your husband?
You have to love what you do. There can’t be two sets of rules for what you do in your business life and your personal life. Forty-six years ago we agreed to disagree. We can have differences in opinion yet still move forward.
What do you think it’s like for your staff to work for a husband and wife team?
We make sure it’s clear right away to our new employees because I think it would be just dreadful to work for a husband and wife team and have no place to run. Mom and Dad are always right there. So I try to get over it right away. I talk about it during the interview process so that they realize that we’re aware of how this might be an uncomfortable situation. This is not such an issue today, however, because we have a strong management team that runs our operations.
What was life like growing up?
I have two younger sisters. I was born during World War II and my dad was in the Navy. My mom was a real go-getter. She worked as an engineer and had her own photography studio and later she owned a restaurant up in Utah. She was a very independent person. My grandmother was very much a big influence in my life. She crossed the plains in a covered wagon. She was a remarkable woman.
We were a very matriarchal family. I was so stunned when Women’s Lib came along because I had never had any of those problems. My mother and my grandmother always said: “You can do anything you want. There are no limits to what you can achieve or accomplish.”
I understand that you are a competitive ice skater. How did you get into that?
I was 35 years old and Nick was a newborn. Andy gave me ice skates and said, “You’ve always loved to dance, you’re going to love this.” It just happened that the woman teaching the “snowflake” class at the Santa Monica ice rink was the national ice dancing champion. I just got on the ice and took off.
I had an ice skating partner for 10 years and competed all over. I was a founding member of a precision team called the “Fabulous Forties.” We were three-time national champions. I still skate occasionally and do a comedy skating show. We look wonderful from out in the distance in those leotards. Up close it’s kind of like Shangri-La — we begin to disintegrate.
What advice would you give a woman trying to build their career?
You absolutely have to love what you do. You can’t pretend. It can’t be something you think you should do. It has to be something you really want to do. Take ownership of your job. No matter what you do, do it absolutely the best in the world. If you’re delivering newspapers, you have to say: “I’m going to own this paper someday; that’s why I’m delivering newspapers.”
What is in store for your future?
We have longevity in our families and we’ll probably work forever because we love it.
What three or four words would you use to describe yourself?
I’m bossy. A perfectionist (I hyperventilate if the peanut butter’s on the wrong shelf). I’m generous, probably to a fault, and I’m empathic.
Email Niki
