As the son of an entrepreneur, Kevin Knight knows what it takes to run a successful business: passion, integrity, and a ton of hard work. He's spent his life admiring the freedom and flexibility that his father had from owning a business. Now, he's ready to start his own entrepreneurial journey.
Here, Kevin shares why he chose to start his next chapter with WOW 1 DAY PAINTING.
Why did you choose WOW 1 DAY PAINTING?
The fact that the word WOW is in the company name really resonates with me. My first career after college was with Enterprise Rent-A- Car, and our motto was to "wow" each and every customer. Top notch customer service is extremely important to me. Another reason, and perhaps the more important reason, is because WOW 1 DAY PAINTING is supported and run by O2E Brands and Brian Scudamore. I had never heard of WOW 1 DAY PAINTING before, but I've heard of 1-800- GOT-JUNK?, as I'm sure most people have. I wanted to be a part of something great like that.
Once I was introduced to the WOW 1 DAY PAINTING concept and business model, I became more intrigued. I began reading his articles on LinkedIn and I was impressed with his passion for people, culture, and his businesses. Not only are O2E Brands and Brian both incredible stories, but the people I've talked to throughout my journey have been some of the most genuine people I've ever met. I felt right at home during my Discovery Day.
What was your background prior to joining WOW 1 DAY PAINTING?
I graduated from West Chester University in Philadelphia in 2001 with a bachelor's of arts degree in History. Since then, I have worked primarily in the car rental industry. I've held leadership positions at each company, in the role of Supervisor and District Manager. The experience taught me a lot about running a business, including everything from budget control, hiring and training the best people, taking exceptional care of my customers, and sales and marketing. I also learned valuable lessons regarding project management, work prioritization, time management, delegation, and strong communication to both employees and customers. I look forward to taking these lessons and experiences to my business with WOW 1 DAY PAINTING.
What are you looking forward to most about being a WOW 1 DAY PAINTING business owner?
Being a business owner is no easy task, but I look forward to the many challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to building a tremendous brand and culture in South Jersey, which will always have employees and customers at the top of the priority list. Also, I pride myself in my strong work ethic and passion for success, and I look forward to those attributes having a direct impact on my business. And lastly, my father was a business owner, so I understand the amount of work it takes to build a sustainable business. But in time, it can afford great flexibility. For example, my dad was able to coach his kids and attend every game we played growing up, and I look forward to that same flexibility down the road with my own family.
What are your passions outside of work?
I know it's cliché, but I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I have a wonderful family who supports me and simply just wants me to be happy. In addition, my wife Marlo is the best and she is extremely supportive of my dreams. We try to inspire and push each other to be the best we can be, and I'm so fortunate to have her in my life and to have her support. We enjoy going out to dinner, travelling, and even the little things like playing board games together.
Outside of my family and friends, I enjoy all sports and anything competitive. My sport of choice these days is golf, but I enjoy watching all everything (I'm a HUGE Philadelphia sports fan!). I love to compete, both personally and professionally. There's nothing better than being part of a winning team, which is why I am extremely excited to begin my entrepreneurial journey with WOW 1 DAY PAINTING and O2E Brands. Their winning history is impressive, and I look forward to contributing to our future success in the years ahead.
How are you involved with your community?
All of the companies I've worked for before joining the O2E Brands family have been very involved with their communities, and I've had the privilege to contribute to the United Way Campaign each year. During my Discovery Day with WOW 1 DAY PAINTING, I was happy to learn about the "Day to WOW" campaign where Franchise Partners volunteer for a day and help paint somewhere that's important to them (whether it's an animal shelter, local hospital, fire department, or otherwise). I can't wait to bring that to my local community starting in 2018 and in the years ahead.
What makes Camden County unique?
I was born and raised in Camden County, NJ, and I love it here. We enjoy all four seasons (summer is my favorite), and we're a great sports city. We're also positioned between Philadelphia, PA (about 20 mins) and the beach (about 45 mins), which gives us the best of both worlds. Philadelphia has a ton of history, including being the first capital of the U.S. back in 1774, the Declaration of Independence signed in 1776, and, of course, playing host to the Rocky movies. And it's great to be so close to the beaches of NJ, as it's always fun and relaxing spending time there with family and friends
Fun facts about you, or anything else you'd like to share?
I have two wonderful parents, who taught me the value of hard work and treating people with respect. They both have worked extremely hard and have overcome obstacles to achieve their own personal successes, and I look forward to the hard work and persistence that it will take in the years ahead as I begin my entrepreneurial journey with WOW 1 DAY PAINTING. I am also a very proud uncle to my two amazing nieces who live in Virginia. My wife and I love visiting my older brother, sister-in-law, and our two nieces, as we always have so much fun together.
Please join us in welcoming Kevin to the WOW 1 DAY PAINTING family!