Ben Knight, a Chicago native, has transitioned well to country, small town living.  As a co-owner of Chef & the Farmer and the Vivian Howard Restaurant Group, he has established himself as a leader in small town investment and job creation.  Teamed with his wife, Vivian Howard, the two have created a business in Kinston North Carolina that now employs over 120, and generates over 7M in annual revenue.

Howard’s Emmy Award winning PBS series, “ A Chef’s Life” has shined a positive light on the food and cultural traditions of Eastern North Carolina.  It has given a sense of dignity and pride to a region often seen as backwards.  Knight and Howard, have achieved this success by bringing urban amenities to an undeserved and overlooked region.  They have proved that big city sophistication has a place in any community and that people from all different backgrounds and walks of life will support quality business that give back to their communities.

In addition, Knight serves as a board member to the NC Rural Center, and is an established contemporary NC artist.  When not in his studio, or one of the restaurants, Knight can be found coaching his 7 year old twins basketball team.