Henry L. Coaxum, Jr., president of Coaxum Enterprises, Inc., is the owner/operator of three McDonald’s restaurants in New Orleans.  He has over 38 years of experience with the McDonald’s Corporation.

Coaxum was named chairman of the Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region in January 2021.  He is chairman emeritus of the New Orleans Business Alliance, the city’s first-ever public-private partnership for economic development.  He served as treasurer of the City’s Hospital Service District A Board that oversaw the redevelopment of the New Orleans East Hospital. He currently is chairman of the New Orleans East Hospital Foundation Board.

He is an equity partner in the development team of The Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans and Private Residences, and is a joint venture partner in the concessionaire groups at the new Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

In recognition for his work in the community, Coaxum is a recipient of the United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Award, McDonald’s Ronald Award and 365Black Award, Young Leadership Council’s Role Model Award, Neighborhood Development Foundation Leadership Award, Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Laureate, New Orleans Council for Community Justice’s Weiss Award and the Chairman’s Award for Lifetime Achievement from the International Economic Development Council.

He currently is a member of the boards of the New Orleans Museum of Art, Audubon Nature Institute, GNO Inc., National World War II Museum, New Orleans African American Museum, University of New Orleans Foundation, New Orleans & Company, Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and Committee of 100 Louisiana.

Coaxum, a 1973 graduate of Talladega College, was recognized by Talladega College with a Regional Outstanding Alumnus Award.  The Talladega College National Alumni Association selected Coaxum as its 2015 Hall of Honor recipient, presented by the UNCF National Alumni Council.   At the 2016 Talladega College’s commencement ceremonies, Coaxum received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from his alma mater.  In 2018, Coaxum was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame in the category of Industry.