2023 UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball – New Orleans

An engineering graduate of Georgia Tech and Tulane University, Paul is a builder and an engineer at heart and by training. He developed deep expertise in construction management, civil engineering, and real estate development throughout his career in the architectural, engineering, and construction industry. Paul has worked at Woodward Design+Build for over 50 years and became CEO of the company in 1987, growing the business to include millwork and steel divisions, over 225 employees, and annual revenues of more than $200 million.

Under his leadership, the company became one of the region’s largest and most well-respected general contractors. An early adopter of the design- build model, Paul continues to push the industry and region by serving as a champion for forward-thinking initiatives such as sustainable building, virtual design and construction, and lean principles in design and construction.

While Paul’s professional success leading our industry is certainly impressive, his contributions to our city are immeasurable. His commitment to the City of New Orleans and its people is evidenced by both his philanthropic giving and the time and deep care he gives to civic and community organizations. As a board member and adviser of countless educational, health, and economic development organizations around the region, Paul works to ensure the city’s non-profit, business, and elected leaders are making thoughtful decisions and instituting effective policies and practices that benefit all our city’s current and future citizens. Among the many donations Paul has committed over the years, he and his wife Donna helped fund the Donna & Paul Flower Hall for Research and Innovation at Tulane University and established a named, endowed scholarship fund at Dillard University as well as a named, endowed fund to support a professorship at Tulane University’s School of Science and Engineering.

In recent years, Paul has shifted his focus to developments that enhance our city and spur long-lasting growth. Under Paul’s direct leadership, Woodward served as developer and general contractor on New Orleans’ largest and most exciting renovation project to date—the over $300 million redevelopment of the iconic World Trade Center building to the gleaming Four Seasons Hotel and Residences. Paul draws on his unmatched deep understanding of the history, culture, the dynamics, and the topography of City of New Orleans and applies his design and construction knowledge to every development project he takes on.

Henry L. Coaxum, Jr., president of Coaxum Enterprises, Inc., has over 39 years of experience with the McDonald’s Corporation and is the owner/operator of three McDonald’s restaurants in New Orleans.  He is an equity partner of the development team that brought a Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences to New Orleans and is a joint venture partner in the concessionaire groups that serve up a world-class dining and retail experience to travelers of the new Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

Henry served as chair of the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region during 2021 and 2022.  He is chair emeritus of the New Orleans Business Alliance, the City’s first-ever public-private partnership for economic development.

He is serving or has served on the boards of the 100 Black Men of New Orleans, New Orleans Museum of Art, Audubon Nature Institute, New Orleans & Company, GNO Inc., National World War II Museum, University of New Orleans Foundation, New Orleans African American Museum, Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Louisiana Committee of 100, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Louisiana Arts Works, Louisiana Restaurant Association Self Insurers Fund and the City’s Hospital Service District A Board that oversaw the redevelopment of the New Orleans East Hospital.  He currently is chair of the New Orleans East Hospital Foundation Board.

In recognition for his work in the community, Henry is a recipient of the McDonald’s Ronald Award and 365Black 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.

Henry championed the national, regional and local McDonald’s Corporation’s and Owner/Operators’ support of the UNCF’s activities since 1984.  He served as Chair of the UNCF’s Annual “Fund Run” for 2007 and 2008.

Henry and his wife Karen served as Co-Chairs of the WYES Gala, the Edgar “Dooky” Jr. and Leah Chase Family Foundation Gala and the “Ladies in Red” fundraiser of the African American Heritage Program of the Preservation Resource Center; were named the recipients of the United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Award — the highest honor bestowed by the United Way; and share the distinction of being selected as Role Models of the Young Leadership Council.

Henry, a 1973 graduate of Talladega College, received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from his alma mater at the college’s 2016 commencement ceremonies. In 2018, he was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame in the category of Industry.