.jpg) |
Dr. Carnie Matisonn
ARTIST, MUSICIAN, ATTORNEY, CORPORATE ADVISER, COMPANY DIRECTOR, ACADEMIC AND COMMERCIAL PILOT
An attorney admitted to the High Courts of South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana; recipient of the Norman Rosenberg Law Scholarship, South African Institute of International Relations Graduate Research Scholarship, served as external examiner at the University of Pretoria Graduate School of Business Management, and having been guest speaker to numerous chambers of commerce and business forums, Dr. Matisonn has utilised his inter-related skills as attorney, corporate financier and merchant banker as strategic advisor, project manager and management consultant to numerous public and private companies. He has conceptualized and implemented organic and acquisitive growth strategies whilst simultaneously developing his own business interests.
|
|
Midrand Conference Centre and Villa Tuscana Wedding Village is his most recent creation which includes 14 buildings residing on 7 acres opposite Gallagher Estate. It is a great deal more than its individual components which include 5 guest houses, 17 function venues, 2 swimming pools, tennis court, helipad and lapa. This intriguing village is the tail end of a journey from which the young man evolved from street corner musician, orchestral violinist, theatre owner, producer and musical director to corporate management consultant, attorney, commercial helicopter pilot and academic.
Over the past 4 years the conference and wedding village has enjoyed growth in excess of 400%. The business plan has been atypical to say the least. Time, money and effort has been expended in presenting frescos on the walls of the Village Hall, on the ceiling of Villa Tuscana Guest House and on the highly decorative interior of St Theresa’s Chapel.
The theme is multi-cultural and eclectic with both conflicting and synergistic artistic influences incorporating Italian, African, Eastern and local flavours.
.jpg) The blend of excitement and energy cross-pollinates with an aura of peace and tranquillity that is to be found in various corners of the village. The diverse influences of the cocktail garden, Tuscana Lapa, Chapella Lapa, the Village Hall, The Chagal and Da Vinci function hall epitomise the charisma and energy of Dr Matisonn.
In this tranquil village, he is an often elusive figure, sometimes popping up as the violinist playing at weddings, or as the helicopter pilot delivering a bride or dignitary. His mission is to turn dreams into reality; convert guests into lifelong friends; and to work with employees to realise their personal and financial ambitions. When asked what gave rise to the birth of this entirely original and inspiring business model, his reply was simple “When I lived in a wooden caravan as a teenager, I painted the interior in beautiful shades of lilac and imaginary black trusses on the ceiling. This had the effect of converting a cold wooden box measuring 3 x 2 metres into a warm home. The first taste of prosperity elevated me to living in a rented pantry at No 51 Honey Street, Berea. Even though the size of my accommodation still measured 3 x 2 metres, the walls allowed for an abundance of photographs of French impressionist paintings that I found in discarded books at jumble sales. As a self supporting part-time student living on a plate of minestrone soup and two slices of bread a day, I was able to appreciate the joys of visiting pawn brokers and trying out various musical instruments as an alternative to the abortive task of finding money to accompany friends to movies. Saturday nights were often spent with musicians, actors and artists involved in debates varying from the relevance of Herbert Marcuse’s philosophy of the One Dimension Man to Timothy Leary’s Psychedelic Experience and Karl Marx’ dialectic materialism.
 Whilst other students attended parties and debutante balls, the good doctor prioritised attending lectures by visiting professors, spending time in libraries and museums and indulging his need to be close to the theatre as a habitué of dress rehearsals that did not require payment of an admission fee.
In the pursuit of tertiary education, he worked as a film extra for R2 per night and the “pap and wors” that was dished out; nightclub photographer, manual labourer, door to door salesman and musician.
Dr Matisonn built The Stage Door which was the first theatre restaurant in South Africa, where many of the lead dancers that subsequently featured in Sun City’s extravaganzas, made their debut. Dr Matisonn built Al Teatro in Melville, an exquisitely painted and decorated combination of 5 interconnected restaurants that featured South Africa’s leading opera singers, burlesque artists and minstrels as opportunities presented themselves.
Midrand Conference Centre and Villa Tuscana Wedding Village is the extension of the life of a man living his dream – to create an environment of peace, happiness and tranquillity for guests, delegates and staff, and to offer a home from home where all those who pass through look forward to a warm welcome, generous hospitality and a memorable experience.
www.midrandconferencecentre.co.za
Clearly, if you can dream it, you can do it!
|
