La van hawkins biography template

He became manager of the store and then went to work for KFC, working his way up to regional vice president. By the time he has been named to Crain's list, Hawkins owned 89 Detroit-area Pizza Hut restaurants and had moved his company headquarters to downtown Detroit in the Zeff building. Other profiles — published at the height of his success — described his physical presence, at 6-foot-2, pounds, as striking and his personality, as he dressed in the latest fashions and pulled up in a Bentley, as flamboyant.

He agreed to sell nearly two dozen restaurants back to the chain. Following his break with Burger King, Hawkins invested heavily in Pizza Hut franchises in Detroit and surrounding areas. Eventually, he owned nearly such franchises. As with his Burger Kings, Hawkins invested heavily in promoting his Pizza Hut restaurants in urban areas.

He placed large posters of himself in restaurants, and customers and employees came to know his striking physical presence. The 6-foot, 2-inch, pound Hawkins visited his stores frequently. Pulling up in his beige Bentley and dressed impeccably, Hawkins motivated his employees and encouraged his customers to feel at home. By the early s, his company, Hawkins Food Group L.

Hawkins sensed that it was time to open his own, high-end restaurant, and he hired some top restaurant personnel to help him create Sweet Georgia Brown, a southern-themed restaurant that opened in Detroit's revitalized downtown. Hawkins announced plans to franchise the concept, further expanding his empire. The opening of Sweet Georgia Brown was part of Hawkins' larger plan to take his image upscale, away from the fast-food business that had made him wealthy.

Hawkins' personal wealth had become apparent—he owned homes in Detroit and Atlanta, and was a prominent backer of black political candidates—and he hoped to use the prestige of a high-end restaurant chain as leverage to rise higher in the world of business and politics.

La van hawkins biography template: Lavan Hawkins was born

Then, the floor fell out from under the flamboyant entrepreneur. In Hawkins' had been fined an undisclosed but allegedly substantial amount for failing to pay taxes owed by several of his restaurants. Then, in June ofHawkins was indicted on three charges in the Philadelphia city government corruption scandal, including conspiracy to commit fraud, fraud, and perjury.

The indictment brought to light a number of outstanding claims against Hawkins. In addition to these financial woes, Hawkins' wife of ten years, Wendy, divorced him and demanded expensive alimony payments. However, the combined damages from the criminal charges, his personal misfortune, and his business failure—Sweet Georgia Brown was briefly closed in for failure to pay taxes—appeared to put the once-successful entrepreneur in danger of declaring bankruptcy.

It remains to be seen in late whether the man Ebony once hailed for his ambition and drive to succeed could overcome these obstacles.

La van hawkins biography template: In , Hawkins was

Detroit Free PressFebruary 23,p. A1; February 28,p. E1; May 10, ; October 7, Customize Biography templates online. Use Edit. Create biographies about characters from a novel quickly and in a structured way. At Edit. They contain predefined sections and fields that you can fill in as easily as in a Word document, including:. Get spectacular designs for your biography!

The partnership, the largest of its kind in the fast food industry, benefited from the creation of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities.

La van hawkins biography template: La-Van Hawkins, a controversial

Such areas became part of a major federal initiative in to boost urban economies, giving tax breaks as an encouragement for business growth. The first group of the proposed Burger King sites included 25 restaurants specifically designed for their appeal to urban African Americans. The Chicago locations had African-American owners and employed approximately 2, people from surrounding neighborhoods.

Similar plans were made for sites in Washington, D. Byhowever, Hawkins' relationship with Burger King began to sour. He personally owned 28 franchises, but he charged that Burger King was jealous of his success and trying to keep him from owning and operating more restaurants. After months of legal haggling, the litigants settled out of court.

Hawkins had enjoyed generally positive press coverage prior to the lawsuit, but the publicity attendant on the suit brought out allegations from those within the industry who claimed that he was self-motivated and unwilling to acknowledge efforts by other franchisees. Hawkins' supporters—and they were numerous—pointed out his half-million dollar donations to local churches and school programs in neighborhoods boasting his Burger Kings.

Following his break with Burger King, Hawkins invested heavily in Pizza Hut franchises in Detroit and surrounding areas. Eventually, he owned nearly such franchises. As with his Burger Kings, Hawkins invested heavily in promoting his Pizza Hut restaurants in urban areas. He placed large posters of himself in restaurants, and customers and employees came to know his striking physical presence.

The 6-foot, 2-inch, pound Hawkins visited his stores frequently. Pulling up in his beige Bentley and dressed impeccably, Hawkins motivated his employees and encouraged his customers to feel at home.

La van hawkins biography template: La-Van Hawkins was born

By the early s, his company, Hawkins Food Group L. Hawkins sensed that it was time to open his own, high-end restaurant, and he hired some top restaurant personnel to help him create Sweet Georgia Brown, a southern-themed restaurant that opened in Detroit's revitalized downtown. Hawkins announced plans to franchise the concept, further expanding his empire.

The opening of Sweet Georgia Brown was part of Hawkins' larger plan to take his image upscale, away from the fast-food business that had made him wealthy. Hawkins' personal wealth had become apparent—he owned homes in Detroit and Atlanta, and was a prominent backer of black political candidates—and he hoped to use the prestige of a high-end restaurant chain as leverage to rise higher in the world of business and politics.

Then, the floor fell out from under the flamboyant entrepreneur. In Hawkins' had been fined an undisclosed but allegedly substantial amount for failing to pay taxes owed by several of his restaurants. Then, in June ofHawkins was indicted on three charges in the Philadelphia city government corruption scandal, including conspiracy to commit fraud, fraud, and perjury.

The indictment brought to light a number of outstanding claims against Hawkins. In addition to these financial woes, Hawkins' wife of ten years, Wendy, divorced him and demanded expensive alimony payments. However, the combined damages from the criminal charges, his personal misfortune, and his business failure—Sweet Georgia Brown was briefly closed in for failure to pay taxes—appeared to put the once-successful entrepreneur in danger of declaring bankruptcy.

It remains to be seen in late whether the man Ebony once hailed for his ambition and drive to succeed could overcome these obstacles. Detroit Free PressFebruary 23,p. A1; February 28,p. E1; May 10, ; October 7, Restaurant BusinessNovember 15,pp. Washington PostDecember 13,p. F1; September 11,p. A10; January 30,p. Hawkins, La-Van — gale.

Learn more about citation styles Citation styles Encyclopedia. Hawkins, La-Van gale. La-Van Hawkins — Businessman, restaurateur Few people have risen so far—or fallen so fast—as businessman and restaurant owner La-Van Hawkins.