Calvin Coleman, Jr.
 
Headshot by: Riley & Riley Photography
Here with Richard Chenoweth, 2005-2006 Restaurateur of the Year!
Mississippi Hospitality
& Restaurant Association 2005-2006 & 2007-2008 Caterer of the Year!
Biography
A
native of the
Mississippi
Gulf
Coast
, owner Calvin Coleman, Jr.
has been the second-generation owner of the Gulfport-based Naomi’s Catering
since 1994. In 2002 he opened the popular Markham Café and took over
management of The Crystal Ballroom in the historic
Markham
Building
in downtown
Gulfport
. This successful venue
remained a popular event site until its demise in Hurricane Katrina.
Chef
Coleman’s client list boasts the most discriminating and celebrated citizens
of the
Gulf
Coast
for both corporate and
social events. During Presidential visits to the
Gulf
Coast
, he has been repeatedly
chosen to serve our famous visitors as well as the White House Advance Teams and
the White House Press Corps.
Chef
Coleman holds a B.A. in Communications from the
University
of
West Florida
after having studied at the
Mississippi
Gulf
Coast
Community College
and
Mobile
College
. His food and beverage
career began in 1981 at Scenic Hills Country Club in
Pensacola
,
FL
and includes time with Hilton Hotels as well as a few
independently owned, upscale restaurants in
St. Louis
,
MO
and
Chicago
IL
. His special events and catering skills were
further honed while employed with J.R. Management of Chicago. As part of his
duties he served in event planning capacities with both the St. Louis Cardinals
baseball team and the Chicago Bears football team where he catered to well-known
sports figures and other celebrities. From 1990-1993 Chef Coleman worked
in the special events department at Mike Ditka’s Restaurant and City Lights
Nightclub, as well as the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame. Returning home in
1994 he took over the reigns of Naomi’s Catering from his mother, Naomi
Coleman, continuing the tradition of quality and service that she began. He
considers the toughest part of his job to be living up to her reputation.
Chef
Coleman is a member of the International Catering Association, the MS
Hospitality & Restaurant Association, the Gulf Coast Business Council and
the Biloxi Bay Chamber (Tourism Committee). He serves on the Board as well as
the Illegal Catering Task Force and the Special Events Committee for the MHRA in
Jackson
.
Since
2003 he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast
Chapter of the MHRA. In that capacity he has served as chairperson for Chefs of
the Coast and is currently the Immediate Past President of that Board. He also
represents the
MHRA
Gulf
Coast
on the Advisory Board for
the Gulfport High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism.
In
April, 2005 and 2006 Naomi's Catering received a distinguished Tapestry Award,
presented by the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Coleman was chosen by his peers as the Mississippi Hospitality &
Restaurant Association's 2005, 2006 and 2007 Caterer of the Year. |
