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Dr. Carnie Matisonn
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Global Business Development Institute ("GBDI") incorporates Midrand Conference Centre and Villa Tuscana Wedding Village, his most recent creation which includes 17 buildings residing on 7 acres opposite Gallagher Estate. It is a great deal more than its individual components which include 7 guest houses, 17 function venues, 2 swimming pools, helipad and lapa. This intriguing village is the tail end of a journey from which he evolved from street corner musician, orchestral violinist, theatre owner, producer and musical director to corporate management consultant, attorney, commercial helicopter pilot and author. In addition to the standard of business excellence emanating from GBDI, the village is atypical to say the least. Time, money and effort has been expended in painting frescos on the walls and ceilings of the Village Hall, and Villa Tuscana Guest Houses and mosaics and paintings on the highly decorative interior of St Theresa's Chapel, Chapella Lapa and Lala Thai. The themes throughout the village are multi-cultural and eclectic with both conflicting and synergistic artistic influences incorporating Italian, African, Eastern and local flavours. 
The blend of excitement and energy cross-pollinates with an aura of peace and tranquillity that is 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 and 7 intriguingly different guest houses 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 corporate events and weddings, or the helicopter pilot delivering a bride or dignitary. His mission is to turn dreams into reality; convert clients and 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. My first dalliance with 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 extracted from discarded art books. 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 in pursuit of the ever elusive “Stradivarius". 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 many students attended parties and debutantes’ gala events, Carnie attended lectures by visiting professors, spending time in libraries and museums and indulging his need to be close to the theatre as a habitué of admission free dress rehearsals. In 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 became the first theatre restaurant in South Africa, where he produced and directed musical revues and Burlesque. Many of his lead dancers subsequently featured in the world renowned Sun City extravaganzas. Dr Matisonn built Al Teatro in Melville, an exquisitely painted and decorated combination of 5 interconnected theatre restaurants featuring South Africa's leading opera singers, burlesque artists and minstrels. The Global Business Development Institute campus incorporating Midrand Conference Centre and Villa Tuscana Wedding Village is an extension of the life of a man living his dream – having created an environment of peace, happiness and tranquillity for clients, guests, delegates and staff www.midrandconferencecentre.co.za |
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| Carnie & his ex RAF Helicopter | |