RAPPORT’S FOUNDERS & HISTORY
Mike and JoAnn Knapp founded Rapport Leadership International in Las Vegas in 1985. In 1986, the Knapps chose the name Rapport Leadership International for their company and offered the first three-day course, “Prosperity Breakthrough.”

1988 was a pivotal year for the company as they hired their first employee and it was also the year they offered the first  “Leadership Breakthrough” course, a signature course for the company still today. JoAnn played a key role in creating Power Communication, Leadership Breakthrough Two, Eagle Quest, and Teen Leadership Breakthrough. Many of these courses are hosted today at the Rapport Executive Retreat Center in Alamo, Nevada.

In 2005, Joe and Jenifer Tate purchased Rapport Leadership International, they grew interested in ownership of Rapport after taking the courses themselves and realizing the profound impact the training has on individuals, businesses, communities and the world. The Tates reside in Milwaukee where they are involved in other businesses, and they both are involved in the non-profit sector of their community. 

Today, Ann Simmons leads the Rapport team as president and is dedicated to driving Rapport's growth and client satisfaction through innovative training and development. 

RAPPORT’S TEEN & EDUCATION HISTORY
In 1991, in response to requests from Rapport’s corporate clients, JoAnn Knapp wrote our Teen Leadership Breakthrough Course for students 14-18 as a means to empower teenagers while building stronger families through a common experience and a common language. As more teens attended Rapport’s course, both schools and communities began using Rapport’s Teen program as a way of investing in our future generation and its communities.  In 2007, the University of Calgary conducted an independent evaluation of Rapport’s Teen Leadership Breakthrough program, and the results showed a substantial increase in the students’ emotional intelligence, self-confidence, adaptability, competence, and inter-personal skills.

In 2008, Rapport formally created Rapport Empowered Education with a mission to complement formal education through leadership training. Through collaborative partnerships with schools, community organizations, and foundations, Rapport Empowered Education is committed to advancing education, empowering students, building stronger families, and engaging communities.