Top Workplaces: Napier Realtors ERA wins second place for mid-size company

Joyner leads a team of roughly 120 agents and 10 support staff who serve the real estate needs of Central Virginians with four offices in Greater Richmond. Part of making sure that Napier ERA can successfully serve clients is creating a workplace where employees feel supported.

“Real estate is a very competitive business,” Joyner said. “There are more than 6,000 of us here. At Napier, we know that we have a team of more than 120 people who have our back no matter what.”

Real estate agents, who work on commission and must generate business for themselves, have a different compensation structure than many other employees of companies that earn a spot on the list of Top Workplaces, Joyner said. The intangible benefits, such as the fellowship and support of team members, go a long way toward cultivating a treasured workplace.

“Nobody here is a number,” Joyner said. “Nobody here is an avatar. They’re all people, and they’re family that we know.”

Napier ERA has been in the region’s real estate market for more than six decades. That longevity gives the firm the comfort, size and horsepower to command a significant presence in the industry. But during those decades of growth, Napier ERA hasn’t lost its close-knit, family feel, Joyner said.

Oscar Napier started the company in 1958, and eventually passed the torch to his sons Jim and Rich Napier. Joyner stepped into the role of president and principal broker of Napier ERA in February 2023. Maintaining this family feel is important to attracting and serving clientele, according to Joyner.

“In our business, people have lots of choices,” he said. “My job is to create a workplace that helps our employees and agents recharge their batteries. We have to show up with good energy.”

In addition to bringing that energy into clients’ transactions, the Napier ERA team also directs their time and talent back into the community they serve. Among the many causes that the firm has supported are the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and Tech for Troops, which assists veterans with technology and skills training as they return to civilian life.

“The community takes care of us, so it is our personal obligation to take care of them,” Joyner said.