CARY, N.C. -

Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2021 Women in Remarketing honorees in the March issue of the magazine, and will be posting Q&As with each of these outstanding leaders on the website.

Next up is Emily Barber, who is a partner at State Line Auto Auction. 

Auto Remarketing: What do you enjoy most about working in the remarketing industry? But, also, what aspect(s) of the business would you change — and how?

Emily Barber: I absolutely love working in the remarketing industry. I find that I work best in a work environment where no two days are the same, which is certainly the case in remarketing! I also really enjoy working with people from all different backgrounds. In the same hour, I might talk with a small business owner, a CEO of a large company and a remarketing executive — I really enjoy the dynamic mix of people.

AR: What are some improvements that need to be made in the industry from a diversity and inclusion perspective? What are some examples you've seen of D&I programs that have worked?

EB: I simply wish that more women would join our industry! I think it's a wonderful network of people and I hope to see more female faces through the years.

AR: Describe a time when you were either a mentor or a mentee, and how that has shaped your career.

EB: I have been attending auction conventions since I was a little girl, and Patty Stanley and Charlotte Pyle are both industry leaders that I have always looked up to. I really value their knowledge, opinions and guidance, and I know that they are both a phone call away when I need advice. I hope to follow in their footsteps throughout my career!

AR: Describe a time in your career where you were challenged and how you overcame that challenge.

EB: I cannot think of a bigger career challenge than the year that everyone just experienced. Although being forced to close down for weeks on end was terrifying, it made us stronger as a company.

I have never seen such an effort made by our employees to ensure that our business not only functioned properly, but they went above and beyond to provide the service that our customers needed, all while doing it in a safe environment. Through any business challenges that I have faced, I find that the key is to have the right people in the right place.

AR: What is the top trend/storyline in the remarketing industry that you're watching this year?

EB: I think staying abreast of everything that is happening in the EV space is critical, both developmentally and legislatively. When I think about the next two decades in our industry, I feel strongly that EVs and how they are retailed and remarketed are going to play a major role.

AR: What is something you would tell your younger self if you could go back to when you started your career in remarketing?

EB: I wish I had started keeping a weekly business journal when I first started in remarketing. That is something my father has always done, and it's fascinating to go back and read his journals from years ago. It provides a wonderful history of the market and our business, and it often tells great stories that make me smile.