Woody Knopf, chairman of Knopf Automotive LLC, has been selected as the recipient of the second-annual Michael Cardone Leadership Award. The award was created by MERA – The Association for Sustainable Manufacturing – to recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in remanufacturing and sustainability.
MERA Chairman David Overbeeke, who also serves as president and CEO of Brake Parts Inc, and MERA President and COO John Chalifoux presented the award on Sept. 27 at the MERA Sustainable Manufacturing Conference in Troy, Michigan. At the award ceremony, MERA honored the legacy of the Cardone family and recognized Woody Knopf for his vision, passion, teamwork and excellence – the key traits associated with the award.
“In addition to his outstanding ability to build long-lasting business relationships, Woody Knopf has a passion for giving back,” said John Chalifoux. “With this award, we recognize and thank Woody for his dedication to our industry and for his love and support of the people in the communities in which he lives and works.”
“It is a great honor to receive the second annual Michael Cardone Leadership Award,” said Knopf. “I am humbled that my contribution to our industry and the community have been recognized by the members of MERA and the Cardone family.”
Knopf Automotive, headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey, was founded in 1945 by Woody’s late father Max Knopf upon his return home from World War II. Max purchased scrap metal and car parts from New York City wrecking yards and established himself as a supplier of parts to the remanufacturing industry. His business specialized in starters, generators, engines and transmissions. Max’s sons – Marshall, Michael and Woody – joined their father in the early 1970s after graduating from college. The family did not know it at the time, but their company was about to grow exponentially – in large part because of Woody’s vision and the business relationships he would nurture with companies such as BBB Industries, CARDONE Industries, Delco Remy, LKQ Corp., Motorcar Parts of America and Saginaw Steering (Nexteer). Today, Knopf Automotive is a unit of LKQ Corp.
“The legacy of Knopf Automotive remains the standard for value, excellence and integrity in the automotive industry,” said Overbeeke. “It has been my pleasure to serve with Woody Knopf on the MERA Board of Directors for the past five years.”
The Leadership Award is named in honor of Michael Cardone Jr., co-founder and chief strategy officer, CARDONE Industries, a global supplier of new and remanufactured automotive products with headquarters in Philadelphia. In 1970, Cardone Jr. co-founded CARDONE Industries with his late father Michael Cardone Sr. Today, the family business, spanning three generations, is the largest family-owned remanufacturer of automotive parts in the world. Cardone Jr. is the founding chairman of MERA, and today he is a special adviser to the association. His son, Michael Cardone III, serves on the MERA Board of Directors.
