"We're open to evaluating opportunities," he said. Sommers represents the fourth generation to lead the company, which traces its origin to Sol Miller, a Hartville area farmer who in 1939 decided to open a livestock auction. After the auction was established, Miller's wife Soloma opened a lunch counter in the barn. They later allowed vendors to open a flea market. Sol and Soloma's son, Howard R. Miller Sr., began managing the auction after his father died in 1958 and bought the business in 1962. He later bought a hardware store, opened a restaurant and tried other businesses. Some worked and some didn't. What worked has grown to a company that employs 850 people at businesses throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania.