Sharon Emek, Ph.D., C.I.C.

President & CEO

Sharon Emek is founder, president and CEO of Work At Home Vintage Experts (WAHVE), an innovative talent solution that engages vintage professionals “phasing” into retirement who work remotely from home on a contract basis for insurance firms across the country. WAHVE’s vision is to transform how businesses, workers and society view retirement so that people, businesses and society benefit from longer productivity.Previously, Emek was a partner at CBS Coverage Group, Inc., a regional full service insurance agency.� Prior to merging with CBS, Emek was founder and CEO of The Emek Group, an insurance agency she formed in 1988. Before opening her management and insurance consulting firm in 1984, she was a professor at Rutgers University.�Emek is a prolific public speaker on insurance, management and women’s business issues. She is often sought by the media as an expert, appearing on CNN, CNBC, CBS, and Lifetime; and is often quoted in numerous national insurance and news periodicals including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, National Underwriter, Business Insurance and others.� Emek has testified before the New York State Assembly Insurance Committee, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee Subcommittees and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.Emek is considered an insurance industry leader and expert.� She has written numerous articles which have been published in insurance industry periodicals, and she is a prolific public speaker on insurance and management issues. She has appeared on CNN, CNBC, CBS, and is often quoted in numerous national insurance and news periodicals.�Emek has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the 2016 SmartCEO Brava Award honoring top female CEOs and the Vistage Leadership Legacy Award; Insurance Business America’s “Elite Women in Insurance” 2014, 2015 and 2016 and the 2015 “Hot 100” list; the first woman to receive the 1882 Fellow Award, the highest honor presented by IIABNY (2014); Outstanding Committee Chairperson Award from IIABNY (2008); the first woman to receive the Sidney O. Smith Government Affairs Award from the IIABA (2007); the Distinguished Service Award from IIABNY (2006); the Helen Garvin Outstanding Achiever Award from the NAIW (1999); and the National Promising Research Award for her doctoral research (1978). Emek served on the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York Board for 10 years and is a past chair.� She served as a board member of ACT (Agents Council for Technology) for four years and Chaired the Mid-Commercial Working Group.� She has served on numerous other boards including the Institute for Student Achievement, Women Builders Council, Center for Women's Business Research, NYC Mayor's Small Business Advisory Board, IBM Small Business Research and Technology Advisory Council.� Emek received her doctoral degree from Rutgers University (1977).� She is the author of Answers for Managers and numerous articles on management and insurance issues.