James Saccacio, Chief Executive Officer
Jim Saccacio joined RealtyTrac as Chairman and CEO in October of 2000. Prior to joining RealtyTrac, Jim was the principal of the Transition Management Group (TMG), a turnaround specialty firm. While at TMG, Jim managed the successful turnaround of a $75 million consumer products company, and orchestrated the strategic sale of an $11 million foam fabrication business to a $50 million privately held company.
Jim started his career at Bank of America as one of only 50 undergraduates chosen to receive accelerated training within the company’s North American Division, which catered to FORTUNE 500 corporations. From there, he progressed to Assistant Vice President in the Corporate Banking Division, where he was responsible for lending programs to FORTUNE 1000 companies. Jim has a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting with a minor in finance from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California at Irvine.
Michael Keane, Founder / Chief Product Officer
Mike has over 22 years of software systems and subsystems design and development experience. Mike built the company’s first client-server database in 1995 and migrated this database to a Web-based platform in 1996. He now oversees the product development team, which is responsible for leveraging new products and technology to maintain a cutting edge and conveniently usable website. Prior to joining RealtyTrac, Mike had a distinguished career in the military defense industry, working for Rockwell International on the B1-B Bomber, and for Northrop on the B2-B Flight Control System. He also developed software for the C-17 for Honeywell and Delco Systems Operations.
Among other notable accomplishments, Mike developed the software system used to test aircraft black boxes, and tracking systems used to manage entertainment assets for Clear Channel Communications, Castle Rock Entertainment and SFX Entertainment. Mike has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Manhattan College and a master’s in computer science from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Cabell Cobbs, Chief Financial Officer
Cabell joined the RealtyTrac team in January of 2006 as CFO. Immediately prior to joining RealtyTrac, Cabell was the CFO for General Environmental Management, Inc.(GEM), a publicly traded hazardous waste management company. While there, he took the company public and established its SEC reporting infrastructure. Prior to GEM, Cabell was the CFO of both Kimco StaffingServices, Inc., a provider of temporary contract labor, and KimstaffHR, Inc., a professional employer organization (PEO) that provides a full human resource benefits and payroll outsourcing solution. The combined companies have revenues in excess of $140 million and approximately 5,000 employees.
Cabell also served as CFO of Independence One Bank of California. Cabell handled the sale of this $1 billion savings and loan on behalf of its owner, Michigan National Bank. Cabell began his career with Deloitte and Touche after graduating from the Indiana University School of Business in Bloomington, Ind., and passing the CPA exam. Cabell has a Masters Degree from the University of California at Irvine Graduate School of Management.
Rick Sharga, Vice President of Marketing
One of the country’s most frequently-quoted sources on foreclosure, mortgage and real estate trends, Rick has appeared on NBC Nightly News, CNN, CBS, ABC World News, CNBC, MSNBC and NPR. Rick has briefed government organizations such as the Federal Reserve and Senate Banking Committee and corporations like JPMorgan Chase, Citibank and Deutsche Bank on foreclosure trends, and done foreclosure training for leading real estate organizations such as Re/Max, Prudential and Keller Williams.
Rick joined RealtyTrac in 2004 as Vice President of Marketing, responsible for the development and management of the company’s brand, public and investor relations. In his current capacity, he also oversees business development and data operations.
Prior to joining the RealtyTrac, Rick spent more than 20 years developing corporate and product sales and marketing strategies for corporations such as DuPont, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Toshiba, JD Edwards, Cox Communications and Honeywell. The 2006 Stevie® Award Winner for Best Marketing Executive, Rick began his career with Foote, Cone & Belding, and also held executive positions with Ketchum Communications and McGraw-Hill.
Rick is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors, the USFN and REOMAC. He is also President of the Technology Council of Southern California and on the Editorial Advisory Board of Default Servicing News.
Rick spends his spare time working toward a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and continuing his lifelong quest to find the perfect wine to compliment his BBQ'd baby back ribs.
Ari Monkarsh, Vice President of Business Development
Ari joined RealtyTrac in 2005 to expand and manage the company’s professional sales organization. Since that time, he has played an integral role in the creation and implementation of RealtyTrac’s sales and marketing strategy, which has led to explosive growth and significant strengthening of RealtyTrac’s business development programs.
Under Ari’s leadership, RealtyTrac has developed partnerships with many of the leading companies in the real estate market. Ari was also instrumental in developing the company’s new auction, training and educational services.
In 2008, Ari was promoted to vice president of business development, focusing on increasing traffic to the RealtyTrac website through strategic business partnerships and expanding the company’s advertising sales program.
Prior to joining RealtyTrac, Ari was instrumental in re-engineering Homestore’s Realtor.com operation, increasing sales activities among the 150 inside and field sales representatives.
Ari started his career at Box Brothers, where he increased annual sales over three years by an average of 200 percent per year. He has also held management and sales positions with R3 Media and J&J Enterprises and received extensive sales and management training from JD Power & Associates, Franklin Covey and Anthony Robbins.
Larry Spencer, Vice President of Data Operations
Joining RealtyTrac in 2007 to expand its real estate industry relations and forge new partnerships with industry leaders, Larry develops and manages the company’s real estate information and data relationships and leads RealtyTrac’s data collection, distribution and operational initiatives.
Prior to joining RealtyTrac, Larry was vice president of business development at Fidelity National Real Estate Solutions, and for the past 30 years, Larry has held a variety of senior management and executive leadership positions in several real estate information organizations, working in data operations, data collection, data licensing, sales and business development. For him, “it’s all about the data.”
Larry began his real estate information career as a petroleum land manager, performing records research in county courthouses. After this initial taste of the real estate data business, Larry worked with Landata/Stewart Title, TRW, Inc. and DataQuick Information Systems, where he held executive and leadership positions related to real estate information, data services and solutions, data sales and data licensing.
During an entrepreneurial time in his career, Larry served as vice president and general manager of NewportWorks, where he was responsible for the development and distribution of unique voice recognition technology and applications for REALTORS® and Multiple Listing Services.
Larry is a founding member of the Real Estate Information Professionals Association (REIPA) and the Property Records Industry Association (PRIA). He is also Ambassador for the Jason Foundation, an organization dedicated to the prevention of teen suicide. He is a 6th Degree Black Belt Taekwondo Master and an Eagle Scout.
Born in Tallahassee, Fla., and a graduate of Florida State University, Larry grew up in South Florida, and now lives in Southern California with his wife Debra. They have two married daughters.
Gary Hegenbart, Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Gary has 25 years experience acquiring top executive and management talent in various positions. Prior to joining RealtyTrac, Gary held the top corporate executive human resources position at four global public organizations: executive-search firm DHR International, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Huck International and Fairchild Corporation.
Gary is a well-known authority on mergers and acquisitions, international business development and talent acquisition and training.
Gary is an expert on human resources and has spoken at national and executive roundtables, and has been featured in business and human resources publications. He has taught as an adjunct instructor of undergraduate and graduate management courses at the University of Illinois, the University of California at Irvine and the University of Phoenix. He earned an M.B.A. from National University of San Diego and three degrees from the University of Illinois: a Doctorate in Administration and Supervision, a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Education.
Born and raised in Illinois, Gary and his wife Carla have lived in Huntington Beach for more than 20 years. They have three daughters: Jennifer, Krista and Sarah.
Robert Houghton, Chief Information Officer / Chief Technology Officer
Bob joined RealtyTrac in 2008 as Chief Information Officer/Chief Technology Officer. Bob has more 28 years experience in operations, infrastructure and information systems management across a wide variety of companies. He comes to RealtyTrac from DDi Corp. in Anaheim, Calif., a high-tech manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCBs), where he was vice president of information technology, chief information officer and vice president of pre cam Engineering.
Prior to DDI, Bob worked at Western Digital Corporation from 1998 to 1999 as director of information services for North America and rose to chief information officer for the IT division. At Western Digital, he enhanced profitability and streamlined both manufacturing operations and business processes.
Bob has also held senior management positions at Adaptec’s Business Information Solutions Group, working as manager of global training and technology. He began his career in programming and has advanced in responsibility with a variety of organizations, including Litton and Johns Hopkins.
Bob holds a bachelor’s of arts degree from the University of Maryland. Additionally, he has taken post-graduate training in information systems management and holds project management and other professional certifications.