port of his wife, Angela. “She never questioned anything. She showed complete faith in me. When you have some- one relying on you, supporting you and trusting you un- conditionally -- it’s really powerful.” The faith was justified. Monk Renovations has grown to 10 employees, and their website is full of testimonials that speak to the quality of both their work and the service. They have been named the 2016 Renovator of the Year, and recently won their second award for the Most Out- standing Reno for a custom kitchen renovation they com- pleted for a family on Cedar Street, Halifax. “When people in Halifax think about renovations, I want them to think Monk Renovations.” Could Monk Renovations be a dynasty? Dan’s two chil- dren have shown relevant interests. Daniel attends Saint Mary’s University for engineering, while Ceiledh, in grade 11 at Charles P. Allen High, plans to get her Bachelor of Commerce degree. Like their father, both excel in sports (rugby and hockey respectively plus both fly light aircraft), academics and community involvement. Dan says, “May- be one day they will put their heads together and achieve great things, maybe even run the company… hint, hint.” PROFESSIONALISM Dan has some strong opinions on the importance of working honestly, above board and paying taxes. “When I started the business, the first thing I did was incorporate and register my business with Joint Stocks and get my tax number. Yes, I am a “tax collector”: I run my business pro- fessionally, I charge taxes, I give receipts. I know there are a lot of “fly by night” contractors who will work under the table: my thinking is, these guys have just told you they are okay cheating the government. Don’t be surprised if they end up cheating you.” Dan notes, “It’s not just that taxes pay for health care, roads and schools. No one wants to pay too much tax. It’s the fact that we warranty our work, we are a stable, professional business, committed to our customers and our community.” One of the ways Monk Renovations shows commitment to the professional community is by hiring young workers and developing them. In 2015, Dan Monk got his Inter- provincial Red Seal certification in carpentry in large part “They are a big part of why I am doing what I do, to be an example.” Which brings us to Dan’s four word manifesto.
“It” was founding Monk Renovations in 2009. Home reno- vations might seem like a strange move for a civil engi- neer, but Dan notes that his skills were highly transferable. “I started on the tools, I had worked on my own reno- vation, plus I own rental properties and have worked on those. Being a professional engineer and a Red Seal car- penter is a rare combination in the renovation business. And sales have never been hard for me. I love building relationships with customers.”
In describing his journey to business owner, Dan goes to great lengths to describe how much he values the sup-
46
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • APRIL 2016
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker