Game Changers: Sam Hamra

From his Springfield corporate headquarters, Sam F. Hamra built a food empire. The attorney and entrepreneur founded the 3,000-employee Hamra Enterprises, which in 2010 recorded revenues of roughly $150 million. Now under the leadership of Sam’s son, Mike Hamra, Hamra Enterprises owns 28 Wendy’s restaurants through Wendy’s of Missouri Inc., 47 Panera Bread cafés in the greater Chicago and Boston markets, and a number of hotels and real estate holdings through various subsidiaries. Hamra, a lifelong Missourian, has led a high-profile life, coming in contact with the likes of Ted Kennedy, Colin Powell, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Steve Forbes. He often has been active in political fundraising, and even worked as finance chairman for Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

One of SBJ's 31 Game Changers in conjunction with Springfield Business Journal's 31st anniversary.[[In-content Ad]]