METAIRIE, LA – Fritz W. Anderson, II, Chairman of the Board of Florida Parishes Bank and CEO and Chairman of FPB Financial Corporation, has announced three new board members to the bank’s Board of Directors.
“We are happy to have Gary Smith, Sr., John ‘Jay’ Batt, Jr., and Henry Coaxum, Jr. join the bank’s board,” Anderson said. “Each of these gentlemen bring a vast and wide variety of experience and knowledge to our board. As FPB continues to grow and expand, we continue to surround ourselves with the best and brightest in the community.”
Florida Parishes Bank is the 95-year old wholly owned subsidiary of FPB Financial Corp. FPB has full services branches in Hammond (2), Mandeville, Covington, Amite and Ponchatoula. The newest Southshore branch will open in March and will be located at 1041 Veterans Blvd., in Metairie, LA.
The following are the three new FPB board members:
• Gary Smith Sr. is currently president of the Magnolia Companies of Louisiana, LLC located in St. Rose, LA. Gary’s father, Henry Smith, Jr., started the company in the 1950s as a construction and dump truck business. The company has evolved into multifaceted business ranging from marine operations to restaurants and commercial real estate with one hundred plus employees.
Smith represents St. Charles Parish as a member of the New Orleans Aviation Board, and he has previously served as a board member for St. James Bank and Trust, which merged with Regions Financial.
• John “Jay” Batt Jr., is a native of New Orleans and is currently President of the Orleans Parish Board of Election Supervisors, Chairman of the New Orleans Republican Party Executive Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Louisiana GOP and the Republican State Central Committee member.
Batt was elected Chairman of the Orleans Parish Board of Supervisors of Elections in 2012 (an organization in which he had been a member since 2008). Other boards and commission seats held by Batt include Board Member of the Planning and Technical Committee of the New Orleans Planning Commission from 2008-2010, President of the Sugar Bowl Committee from 2013-2014, Crimestoppers Trustee from 2004 to present, Board Member for Beacon of Hope from 2006 to present and Board Member of the Delgado Foundation from 2006 to present. He was also on the New Orleans City Council from 2002 to 2006, having represented District A.
• Henry L. Coaxum Jr., is a native of New Orleans and currently owns three McDonald’s Restaurants in the New Orleans area. He began his career with McDonald’s as a manager trainee in 1984, and since owning these restaurants, he has received several of the McDonald’s Corporation’s highest honors, including the 365 Black Award, which is the award that salutes outstanding individuals who are committed to making positive contributions that strengthen the African-American community, and the Ronald Award, which recognizes owners/operators exemplary operations, marketing, employee relations practices, and commitment to their local communities.
Coaxum serves as a chairman of the New Orleans Business Alliance, an appointment by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. He also serves as treasurer of the city’s Hospital Service District Board that directed the redevelopment and operation of a full service hospital in Eastern New Orleans. He serves on the boards of the Audubon Nature Institute, the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s Self Insurers Fund, and GNO, Inc. He is a member of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the Committee of 100 Louisiana, and the Business Council of New Orleans.
