Grendon is of Ngai Tuhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou, Aitangi-a-Hauiti descent and has fifteen years international experience putting together major ventures involving blue-chip companies expanding their brand coverage into new and emerging markets, increasing and sustaining EDBITA growth in dynamic and fast-track environments.
He has worked with blue-chip companies expanding their brands into new and emerging markets, increasing, and sustaining EDBITA growth in dynamic and fast-track environments.
Since 2000 he has advocated social enterprise and entrepreneurship drawing upon sound business techniques and private sector approaches to find solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues and challenges.
Grendon founded Virtual Kaiwhakahaere Limited as a response to COVID and a way to provide support services to a broad cross section of people and businesses needing help while in lockdown. He has accumulated knowledge and experience in Māori, Pasifika and mainstream social services, emergency & transitional housing, education & training, mental health, and general health & wellbeing, youth justice, not for profit and ICT sectors.
He has several board and committee postings focused on Youth & Family Services, Environment, Business Enterprise and Technology. He has worked with victims of homelessness, whanau in emergency & transitional housing and sustainable tenancies, people living with mental health & physical disabilities, criminogenic behaviour and are trapped in negative living environments impacted by alcohol & drug addiction, gangs, and suicide.
Grendon has lead specialized teams for companies and NGO's / NFP's operating within the Iwi, education & training, social services, mental health, housing and technology sectors. He lead the Nga Kaiarataki Return to Māori Trade Training Apprenticeships pilot program across the Bay of Plenty, reporting to HON Minister for Māori Affairs Parekura Horomia.
In 2004 Grendon incubated and launched the Internet Service Provider company Kiwi Online (KOL). This company lead change into how internet was sold to NZ consumers, introducing significantly lower monthly subscriber fees and removing the requirement to enter into term contracts.
More recently Grendon established a Housing Collective devoted to providing disadvantaged families accessible pathways to affordable and sustainable housing options. This housing collective comprises partnerships with a local multi-national building supplies cooperative a reputable housing manufacturer based in Tamaki Makaurau, a network of reputable local contractors and various housing groups across the country. This collective supports and promotes BUY-LOCAL!
Grendon is a registered business coach and mentor and has enjoyed working with companies, charitable trusts and NGO's over the past 15 years helping them navigate the ever-changing demands of dynamic markets and global trends influencing/impacting their business.
He also has proven achievements within the construction and property development industries with a career that started working for top tier international companies owned by General Electric Company, Exxon Mobil, Marconi PLC and the BTR Nylex Group. In 1991 he launched his construction company in collaboration with Gilbarco Australia Limited providing complex design, build, project management and consultation services to blue-chip companies, establishing strong relationships with global manufacturing and distribution companies based in Europe, UK, USA and Asia.
Grendon has experience negotiating national and international supply and service contracts with companies and entities such as Toyota, Ford, GMH, Shell Oil, Lucas Oil, Castrol, BHP Petroleum & Mining, Government Agencies including EPA, Millitary, Urban Transit, Regional Council, Local Council, and others.
CORE VALUES
Grendon believes that all services offered must be of the highest quality and are either best practices or based on best practices principles. Evaluated with results guiding ongoing adaptation and innovation. Services are maximised when staff are skilled and passionate about their work.
That requires educating and supervising staff; involving them in decisions; giving them opportunities to create, grow and succeed; and facilitating work teams supportive of each other both personally and professionally. Grendon treats staff, clients, stakeholders, and partners with mutual respect and sensitivity, recognizing the importance of diversity. He views sound financial stewardship as critical to the organization and to those who support it. Funding decisions should be both transparent and inclusive. The problems of the service users cannot be addressed in isolation. Schools, parents, healthcare and Justice professionals, businesses, and other community organisations and agencies all have a role to play. Collaboration and consultation are key.
There are always new ways to solve problems and new and innovative ways to help the service users on their journey of re-empowerment in their lives. Grendon encourages staff to keep their pulse on community needs and bring their ideas to their peers and supervisors for service development or adaptation and believes the organisation must demonstrate the highest degree of accountability to their service users, staff, funders, and the community at large. Demonstrating this through detailed record keeping at all levels, transparency of service, board involvement, and sound financial stewardship.