John C. Emery, Jr. joined Emery Air Freight, a company founded by his father, in 1946. He began his career with the company as a truck driver. In 1968, when he became President, company revenues totaled $80 million and by his retirement in 1988, revenues exceed $1.2 billion.
     
     In 1988, Emery chaired President Reagan's White House Conference on Public and Private Partnerships. These series of conferences held across the US explored the notion of strengthening communities through public/private partnerships.
     
     "A community is not maximizing its potential if it focuses on only one sector. The vast resources available to the public sector coupled with the efficiency of the private sector offers the greatest rewards," says Emery. For this reason, Emery became interested in supporting the Foundation, having recognized its ability to serve as the bridge between the private and public sectors. As one of the first Trustees, his support reinforces the Foundation's capacity to merge these sectors in a results-driven manner.