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Courageous McD’s operator Coaxum remains optimistic about New Orleans

Courageous McD’s operator Coaxum remains optimistic about New Orleans

Just a little more than six months after Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans in August 2005, McDonald’s franchisee Henry L. Coaxum Jr. was able to get one of his high-profile units up and running, providing desperately needed services and a sense of normalcy to the devastated community.

Coaxum, who lost three of his restaurants, his home and his office complex in the storm and ensuing flooding, was recently honored for his efforts by the Small Business Administration, which bestowed on him the 2008 Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery. The award recognizes business owners, public officials and volunteers who display courage, ingenuity and tenacity following natural disasters and contribute to the rebuilding of their communities.

Coaxum was able to reopen his unit on St. Charles Avenue in February 2006, just in time for New Orleans’ 150th Mardi Gras celebration.

After returning from receiving the honor in Washington, D.C., he said: “Progress has been slow but methodical. It is extremely difficult to imagine what becomes of a city that has severe infrastructure devastation and is dependent upon governmental support to re-establish that foundation.”

He added, however, that his hopes have been lifted “by the vast amount of citizens, institutions, and organizations that are actively involved in the rebuilding of this community.”

“We are on a journey that will take a period of years to accomplish,” he said, “but we will rebuild a New Orleans that is new, different and better.”

SBA administrator Steve Preston said, “Mr. Coaxum displayed tremendous courage and resourcefulness in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and he exemplifies the spirit one must have to rebuild after a tragedy like this.”

The SBA said it was honoring Coaxum for “the care, concern and innovation” he displayed “in getting his employees back to work in the aftermath of the worst natural disaster in U.S. history and his tireless devotion to the rebuilding of New Orleans’ business sector.”

Coaxum’s company, Coaxum Enterprises of New Orleans, currently has seven McDonald’s open and one on hold awaiting the possible return of Wal-Mart to a heavily damaged section of New Orleans.

Many challenges remain, Coaxum said. “Our greatest challenge is recruiting people for the hospitality and service industry,” he said. “With the existing systemic opportunities in housing, day care and the education environs, it is quite challenging to staff our industry consistently.”

Nonetheless, Coaxum remains optimistic. “The future is bright, and full of opportunities,” he said. “We believe in New Orleans, and will do whatever it takes to support her revitalization and rebirth. I will continue to solicit others to visit the New Orleans area soon to vacation, to volunteer, to attend a conference or workshop, to further their education, or to share their entrepreneurial spirit.”

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