Get to Know our CEO: 10 Questions with Todd Piett

Todd Piett joined Rave in 2005 and today runs the global organization that has its technology deployed at thousands of colleges, universities, businesses and communities. Prior to joining Rave, Todd was responsible for launching new products for Unica Corporation where he helped drive their successful IPO. Previously, Todd was VP of Product and Marketing for iBelong, a portal provider targeting affinity organizations and a Program Manager at Dell Computer where he launched Dell’s branded ISP.

Todd graduated with honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. After graduation from United States Military Academy at West Point he served 7 years in the US Army as an aviation officer.

1. Where did you grow up and how did you end up at Rave Mobile safety?

 I grew up near Detroit Michigan.  After my time in the Army and at several startups in the Boston area, I was introduced to Rave by its first angel investor, who I had worked with before. 

2. How do you see our company evolving in the next year, two years or five years?  

Safety challenges are unique, in that all but the smallest issues normally involve collaboration with outside parties to effectively address them.  We are in a unique position of having a very diverse set of customers with a common thread – they have all been entrusted with the safety of others – and often need to work with each other.  We will continue to work across that diverse group to help all those involved in an incident to better communicate and collaborate. 

3. What is most important to our organization—mission, vision or values?  

So much for the easy questions!  The truth is that all three have to align or each just becomes a trite saying.  We believe safety is a core human right.  You shouldn’t have to be afraid where you live, work or play.  That’s our vision.  Our mission is really just about using technology to enable that vision.  Our values are how we believe in best accomplishing that mission – treat others like you want to be treated, when you say you are going to do something – do it, have fun, be humble and recognize that what you achieve is often from the hard work of others. 

4. What one word would best describe your leadership style?  

Empowering – or at least that’s what I’d hope it is!  I am blessed with some really smart people and most of the time my job is to just remove obstacles from their path (and sometimes that means getting out of the way myself!) 

5. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the emergency notification and communications industry?  

Trust.  Whether it’s an agency’s willingness to share information, trust each other to operate efficiently on radio channels, or a resident’s trust of the veracity and timeliness of information shared with them, trust is often one of the biggest challenges to effective communication and collaboration. 

6. What do you see as the biggest opportunity facing the emergency notification industry?  

Technology advances have made the effective and seamless sharing of actionable information possible.  Whether it’s AI that identifies what is important and needs to be escalated in a stream of information, or standards and interfaces that allow secure sharing of information and bridging of communications, the technology exists to solve our interoperability and data overload challenges.  The question is whether the process changes required to really change how we prepare and respond will follow at the same pace. 

7. What is your favorite part about working at Rave?  

The people – both our team and customers.  I enjoy being around them, learning from them, laughing with them and growing together. 

8. What is your favorite sports team?  

Whatever team my kids are playing for. 

9. Outside of work, what are your favorite things to do?  

I enjoy spending time with my family and entertaining. I grew up in a very small family but always drifted towards hanging out with large families.  My wife and I love to have people over and love it when the kids have friends over.    

10. Do you have anything else you’d like to share with our blog readers? 

 Don’t agree to requests from the marketing team about answering a few simple questions!