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Business hall of fame award
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Northern Advocate Business Hall of Fame....
Special night for Monty
He’s come a very long way since he launched his career as an entrepreneur with a shoeshine stand. And now Monty Knight, who went on from those humble beginnings to establish Kaitaia’s first nightclub, to work as a professional signwriter, followed by a record shop, then moved into electronics retailing and videos, succeeded an older brother as owner of Knights the Jewellers (founded by his parents), and established a critically acclaimed vineyard, has been inducted to the Northern Advocate Business Hall of Fame. Precisely one week earlier he was elected to the Far North District Council, at his first attempt The latest honour was announced at the 2010 Northland Business Excellence Awards in Whangarei on Saturday night, Mr Knight joining iconic Northland business leaders including Tom McKay, founder of McKay Electrical,and Michael Hill. Through all the ups and downs Kaitaia born and bred Mr Knight, who confessed that he has been referred to by those close to him as the Energiser Bunny, has loudly and proudly championed Northland as a wonderfully beautiful and productive place to live and work. He did it again on Saturday night. ‘‘Every day I consider it a privilege to live and work here,and everywhere I go I tell people about it,’’ he said.‘‘It’s sobering, though, to be the recipient of this prestigious award at the near end of a
recession, the worst I have experienced in 50 years in business. ‘‘There were times when we wondered if we would get through it, but here we are, hanging on by our fingernails. And I want to acknowledge those hundreds of other businesses that have made it through, and those that have not. Because nobody told us,did they? Nobody knew in 2007 what we were in for, and if they had, perhaps they should have warned us. But somehow we entrepreneurs are supposed to work this out, even when our banks and our advisers can’t.’’The award was for those who had put everything on the line, who had got going when the going got tough, who had followed Sir Winston Churchill’s advice to ‘Never give up, never give up, never give up.’ He also appreciated the company he was now keeping as a member of the Hall of Fame. Michael Hill was an extraordinary success story, Tom McKay as sharp as a tack, a true entrepreneur and a ‘‘toiler from way back.’’‘‘I worked with Tom on the Northland Business Development Board, and he earned my utmost respect with his flair, insight and wisdom,’’ Mr Knight said. ‘‘Michael Hill, with his strict diet, will probably live forever, and of course Tom died earlier this year at age 103. I will have to keep drinking all that red wine to come close to matching them. ‘‘And of course there are hundreds of other businesspeople throughout this Northland of ours, many of whom are equally talented and deserving. I take my hat off to them.’’ He congratulated all the
award winners, wishing them every success in the future, thanked the Northland Chamber of Commerce and its sponsors for organising and promoting the awards, those who had nominated him and the judges for their consideration. ‘‘Finally, I want to thank my family, my friends, my staff and my business associates for putting up with me,’’ he added. ‘‘This is indeed one of the highlights of my career, one that I will never forget.’’
(Article courtesy of Northland Age 19th Oct 2010)
Monty with award (photo courtesy of Salt & Light creative studio).
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