EP87: Why This Successful Family Business Said No to Nepotism

In this episode, we sit down with Eddie Solomon, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Net at Work, a technology services company he started with his brother in 1996. From their humble beginnings as Russian-Ukrainian immigrants in Brooklyn to building a thriving enterprise serving over 5,000 businesses, Eddie shares insights about true entrepreneurship versus business ownership, the delicate balance of working with family, and how to maintain an innovative spirit while scaling. Eddie shares his fascinating perspectives on creating a culture of "intrapreneurship" and the importance of meeting both clients and employees where they are. This conversation offers valuable lessons for business leaders at any stage of their journey.   Co-Founder & Co-CEO Eddie has over two decades of entrepreneurial experience in the technology and services industry. In 1996, Edward co-founded Net at Work, offering a service-oriented approach to IT and network support. As an owner of an emerging business, Edward completely understands the value of executive-level involvement- and its contribution to a project’s ultimate success- from the earliest planning stages through completion and beyond.  Additionally, Eddie has co-founded several start-ups, including Docutrend Imaging Solutions, a managed provider of office equipment and print management services; Cloud at Work, a hosting services provider; Pixafy, an eCommerce agency recently acquired by Kensium, LLC. with a focus on integration to ERP, and Swype Payments, a payment processing provider acquired in 2021 by FortisPay. Eddie serves on the board for Young Jewish Professionals (YJP), a not-for-profit organization focused on providing business, educational, and mentoring opportunities for the new generation of Jewish business leaders. In 2021, Edward was named to the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting. Before starting Net at Work, Edward worked in commercial and investment banking for Republic National Bank and NatWest Markets, where he managed accounting for real-estate properties and restructured Chart of Accounts, respectively. Edward received his MBA in Finance from Baruch College, NY.   Company Overview Net at Work is a well-established IT service provider based with offices in the United States, Canada, and India specializing in software solutions and services for small and medium-sized businesses. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in New York City, the company has grown to over 450 remote-based, full-time employees. Net at Work’s core offerings include software sales, implementation, managed services, fractional CIO, and hosting services for ERP, CRM, HRMS, and e-commerce solutions.  Net at Work serves a diverse North American client base exceeding 6,000 customers across various industries such as service, distribution, manufacturing, retail, software, technology, healthcare, not-for-profit, and construction. Providing a strong portfolio of value-added professional and managed services, Net at Work partners with industry-recognized software publishers like Sage, Oracle NetSuite, Acumatica, Creatio, and Rippling to provide comprehensive business management solutions. In addition to its primary services, the company offers IT-managed services and private hosted cloud services through its sister company, Cloud at Work and a strong alliance program that includes Sage 100/300 ERP resellers and over 300 managed service providers. Net at Work’s technology solutions, deep business expertise, and strategic partner network together provide highly adaptable and scalable solutions that empower clients to optimize performance and drive growth.