Perhaps Emily inherited her entrepreneurial spirit from her father, Norman, who has more than 50 years of experience running and starting his own companies.

For six years, Norman served as the president of the metalworking machinery dealership, All State Machinery Corp. He went on to found NPF Industries Ltd., which dealt with the brokerage, sale, liquidation, and auction of metalworking equipment.

As online auctions emerged, Norman found himself frustrated with the options available because none allowed operators like him to promote their own brands.  He filled that gap in the market by founding the pioneering Inc. 500 company NextLot, which quickly grew into a multi-million-dollar company.

Norman has had a successful career, and he knows what it takes to make small- and medium-sized businesses reach their full potential. He sees working with the next generation of entrepreneurs as his way of giving back.