Gail Knight is an author, a highly successful entrepreneur and a retired executive who demonstrated remarkable insight on using analytics and data management to drive company growth. 

Knight garnered more than 40 years of experience in event photography, and along with her husband, Bob, she grew Bob Knight Photo (BKP) from a fledgling party-pic photography company at Florida State University to the largest commencement photography company in Florida and California. Knight also successfully negotiated pricing for special events at The Walt Disney Company, the world-renowned entertainment enterprise, resulting in more than 6 million photos over a 15-year period. She and her team managed a three-year transition from analog to digital photography, including image management and storage, website design, production software and retail software, plus creation of a new workflow, GradTrak®, which became an industry-leading system.

In 2007, Knight and her husband worked to secure equity investment to dominate the event photography space in the U.S. and Canada. After 15 key acquisitions, their GradImages™ brand achieved service contracts with most of the nation’s universities and nearly 150 marathons per year, including five of the world’s major races, held in Chicago, Berlin, New York, Boston and London. Their mix of service and marketing led their company to reach nearly $100 million in annual revenue, with more than 4 million customers per year.

Also wide-ranging are Gail Knight's contributions to FSU. She and her husband remain major donors, having funded the Gail and Bob Knight Auditorium in the College of Business’ new home, Legacy Hall, and contributed to countless initiatives within athletics, academics and campus facilities. Knight also is a hands-on leader whose influence reverberates across campus: She has shared her wisdom with students, speaking at events and serving as an engaged member of multiple boards and committees, including as a current member of the College of Business Board of Governors.

She and Bob Knight endowed an athletic scholarship for the FSU football program and a major gift for FSU softball. Additionally, they have contributed significantly to the FSU College of Communication and Information, supporting – as they do for the College of Business – programs and initiatives that inspire the next generation of leaders.

That underscores Knight’s heart for community service, including her role as treasurer of the Tallahassee Tottenham Hotspur FC youth soccer team and as benefactor of the technology room and STEM classroom building at Holy Comforter Episcopal School. Her generosity goes global as well, including as a supporter of educational initiatives in Zambia.

Her book, “Married To It,” which she co-wrote with her husband, shares her adventures as an entrepreneurial powerhouse and devoted partner and her story of grit, resilience and unshakable loyalty to her values and community.

A Certified Public Accountant, Knight earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from FSU in 1982.