Michael Hamra is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hamra Enterprises based in Springfield, Missouri. Under his leadership, Michael has helped to build one of the largest restaurant franchise groups in the nation, with 137 restaurants in 6 different states. Hamra Enterprises owns and operates Panera Bread bakery-cafes in Boston and Chicago, as well as numerous Wendy’s Old Fashion Hamburger restaurants in the states of Massachusetts, Missouri and New Hampshire and has recently continued expansion with Noodles Restaurants in the states of Massachusetts, Missouri and New Hampshire. Additionally, Hamra Enterprises owns and operates a Holiday Inn Express in Lewisville, Texas which is rated as one of the top 10 Holiday Inn Express hotels in the Dallas Fort-Worth market. With his extensive knowledge of business and property development, Michael has also been involved in developing over 600 low income and senior housing units throughout the state of Missouri. His experience in development throughout the Midwest makes him an invaluable partner to Four Corners/Trinity.
Before joining Hamra Enterprises, Michael practiced law for more than 8 years in Washington, DC. During his tenure there, he specialized in telecommunications regulations and legislation and worked as a political appointee for the Clinton Administration. His work as an appointee focused on implementing policies to support the government initiative to connect all of the nation’s schools, libraries and healthcare organizations. While working in DC, he also served as the Chief of Staff and Legal Advisor for the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Michael spent much of his law career working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment – at times reaching beyond U.S. borders – developing skills and experiences crucial to his success in property development today.
Michael represented the United States as a speaker specialist on regulatory policies and in 2001, he was commissioned by the U.S. Department of State to represent the United States in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This commission purposed assisting the new Yugoslavian government in overhauling telecommunications law inherited from the Milosevic regime.
Awards and Organizations
- Michael is a recipient of the US Department of Commerce Bronze Medal for Superior Federal Service
- Recognized in the Boston Business Journal’s 40 under 40
- Director of Oakstar Bank, located in Springfield, Missouri
- Chair of Family Enterprise USA, a non-profit organization providing education to the general public, policymakers and media regarding the collective issues facing family enterprises
- Member of Young Presidents Organization
