Hamra Enterprises names new president

Mike Hamra, son of company founder and CEO Sam Hamra, began his role as president and chief operations officer of Hamra Enterprises in mid-March. Sam Hamra remains as CEO of the corporation.

Mike Hamra has been working on building the company’s Panera Bread franchises, Boston Bread LLC and Chicago Bread LLC, since 2001, after spending nearly seven years in legal and government work. He has served as president of the two Panera divisions since 2004.

Under Mike Hamra, the Panera Bread arm has grown from just two underperforming Boston cafés the company took over in 2000 to 45 locations in Boston and Chicago.

Now, Mike Hamra’s plate will contain bread, burgers, hotels and real estate. In addition to the Panera franchises, Hamra Enterprises is the umbrella corporation for Wendy’s of Missouri as well as various hotel and real estate holdings.

Between all of its divisions, Hamra Enterprises employs 3,000, and the company reported 2007 revenues of nearly $145 million, up 33 percent since 2005.

The company’s growth qualified it as No. 9 in Springfield Business Journal’s 2008 Dynamic Dozen, which recognizes the 12 fastest-growing companies in southwest Missouri. Boston Bread LLC was named to the list in 2006. That arm posted 2007 revenues of $40 million, up from $18.5 million in 2003, said Mike Hamra.

“We’re expanding at a rapid rate,” Sam Hamra said. “We’re expanding our Wendy’s, we’re expanding our Panera Breads and our hotels, so it’s nice to have somebody with Mike’s capabilities come in and assist us in that leadership role.”

Those credentials include serving as chief of staff and legal adviser for the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, as well as special counsel to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Mike Hamra is also a member of the Bread Council, which advises and guides Panera’s franchise strategy.

Chuck Ocarz, president of Wendy’s of Missouri, said he’s been fascinated watching Mike Hamra’s switch from law to food.

“It’s nice to see what that background and experience brings to our industry,” Ocarz said.

Core growth

Mike Hamra expects Hamra Enterprises to grow through expansion of its existing businesses.

“My primary objective is to stick with our core business and continue to grow that, and also add pieces that are synergistic with our core business,” he said.

Part of improving the core business has been expansion of the Wendy’s brand along with a facelift for existing locations, according to Ocarz.

“We’ve scraped and rebuilt nine of our stores … we’ve done major remodeling on seven stores, and then over the last several years we’ve built nine new stores in Missouri,” Ocarz said, adding that one store is under construction in Branson and the company is “looking seriously” at four other sites in southwest Missouri.

Mike Hamra also didn’t rule out the possibility of adding holdings, though nothing is currently in the works.

“The growth vehicles for us in the future will be driven by our desire to stay in hospitality and food, and that will be driven by whether we really feel excited about another concept, either in the restaurant or hotel business,” Mike Hamra said.

And despite the growth and the new member of the management team, don’t expect the company founder to slow down or step aside any time soon.

“These companies have all reported directly to me in the past, and now they will report to Mike, who will report to me,” Sam Hamra said. “He helps me oversee all of these companies, but I’ll still work as hard today as I did before Mike’s promotion.”

Hamras’ Key Holdings

Wendy’s of Missouri Inc. – owns 25 restaurants in Missouri, with another under construction in Branson;

Boston Bread LLC – owns 16 Panera Bread cafés in the Boston area;

Chicago Bread LLC – owns 29 Panera bread cafés in the Chicago area;

SJH Hotels LLC – owns Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Lewisville, Texas, and co-owns Baymont Inn in Springfield; and

Jade Properties LLC – owns real estate in Missouri, Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas

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