Vincent Marotta was chairman of North American Systems Inc., which introduced the Mr. Coffee home-brewing machine in 1972. The son of Italian immigrants, Marotta graduated from Shaker Heights High School (named an All-Scholastic football player in his senior year) and enrolled at Mount Union College. World War II intervened, and after his freshman year he was drafted into the U.S. armed forces. Following military service he returned to Mount Union, where he excelled in football and track. He earned a tryout with the Cleveland Browns after graduation and then embarked on a career in construction and real-estate development as president of Marotta-Glazer Company.

Marotta and his wife, Ann, established the Marotta Montessori Schools of Cleveland. He has served as regional director of the Amateur Athletic Union, board member of the Diabetic Association of Cleveland and trustee of Mount Union College.