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Metro Disposal: Living through Giving

A Featured Profile by Louisiana Data News Weekly on Metro Disposal's Co-Owner Jimmie Woods

by Edwin Buggage, Louisiana Data News Weekly

NEW ORLEANS - Metro Disposal is the name that people from around the City have come to recognize with its red and white signs onside trucks and containers all over Southeast Louisiana. But many do not know much about Jimmie Woods one of the men behind Metro's success and his commitment to giving back. "Giving back was instilled in me and my eight siblings, growing up I saw my parents Johnnie and Edna Woods who lived a life centered around giving, that's all I saw and so I emulated that, when I give it is in tribute to my parents and what they taught me and my siblings," says Woods.
 
Jimmie Woods's story began in New Orleans in the late 1950's where he saw his father and uncle uproot their families from Natchez, Mississippi seeking out opportunities. Seeing this early in life; Jimmie learned the value of hard work, something that he carries with him to this day. Talking about the beginning of what was to be called Metro and its humble beginnings he says, "My father and uncle would go to old dairies to get milk, cheese and old bread for their livestock, while they were doing that the owners asked could they take boxes and other things on the back of their pick-up truck." Continuing taking this walk down memory lane he says admiringly of his father and uncle and the success they achieved, "They grew Metro into a fleet of pick-up trucks, then graduating to larger trucks and built a nice business. We also did janitorial, grass cutting etc., but in the early 70's the waste management industry became consolidated and my family eventually sold the business."
A few years passed and after several endeavors, Jimmie Woods and his brother Glenn H. Woods along with their other siblings decided to revive the brand and get back in the waste management business, "In 1982, we started a company called Metro Disposal. We decided to go back in the business with one truck, we had private clients that included grocery stores and restaurants, and one of the first businesses to give us an opportunity was called Eddie's, an iconic restaurant that was located in the 7th Ward and owned by Mr. Eddie Baquet . . . also we serviced many other Black owned establishments," says Woods of the beginning days of his business venture. Metro has always been a company with a clientele where race was not a barrier, "During those early years we also had White clients and it didn't matter whether we were a Black or White owned company to them, they just knew they were getting quality service and we were competitive in our pricing," recounts Woods, "As we grew we received an opportunity to do government work first through contracts with The Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) and the School Board and eventually the City of New Orleans where we were a minority partner in 1996 but we ultimately grew as one of the prime contractors and that's where we are today."  Metro has become an example of an African-American owned business in New Orleans that is not only surviving but thriving post Katrina. Mr. Woods feels he has been blessed with success and because of that he feels it is important that he help other African-American businesses grow, "We have been able to build strong bonding capacity, and we will sometimes put up bonds for jobs and sub-contract it out to other minority contractors, that is our way of providing them an opportunity to grow their businesses," says Woods.  While New Orleans is improving in many areas post Katrina, Woods feels there are many more things that can be done, so he is committed through his philanthropic efforts to invest in worthy causes, "There is so much need in this community, and my family believes it is about giving back, we support playgrounds, scholarship funds, civic groups and a host of other worthy causes in the places we do business." Continuing he says, "In the past we have supported organizations such as 100 Black Men, Boys Town, The Dryades YMCA, Friends of St. Aug, NAACP, National Urban League, SCLC, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and others. This is something we are dedicated to doing, giving back to the entire New Orleans community, but especially causes in the Black community."
Another way Mr. Woods gives back is by participating in speaking engagements where he talks to young people, church groups and others and he says he is often moved and humbled by the encouragement he gets from people and when they say his story is inspirational, "I think I have been allowed to be a vessel to do good. I have been fortunate and I am in the position that I am in and I feel it is my duty to do good . . . for I feel the more good we do the more it comes back to us," remarks Woods. "I have an obligation to try to make a positive impact on the community particularly for Black males, my goals are to inspire young Black men to focus on setting goals for themselves and realize they can start from anywhere and get to where they want to go if they work hard."

Jimmie Woods has become a success and he says he has a simple formula, "I think it was Booker T. Washington who said you can take a simple thing and do it good and that is what I apply to my life and this is what I try to instill in young people," says Woods. "I enjoy telling people my story and the journey of where I came from to where I am today and how I got here." As Woods reflects on a life filled with much success and accomplishments he says, "I look back and I am pleased on the positive impact we have had on this community; we employ 150 people and help them have a livelihood where they can support their families and add value to the City."

Jimmie Woods embodies the spirit of the best of New Orleans; he is an African-American businessman competing at the highest level and winning and is also dedicated to giving back. His life's journey can serve as an inspiration for those who aspire to reach higher. On the lesson one can take from his life he says, "I think whatever you do if you have a goal stay focused and if you work hard anything is possible and yes you can reach your full potential and accomplish success in all areas of your life." And although he has gained much success while giving a lot back to the community, Woods feels there is still much more to be done both professionally and civically; so he is continuing to grow Metro into other urban markets around the country. "Our goal is touch as many lives as we can and we will continue to be dedicated to this mission for I believe to whom much is given much is required."

Edwin Buggage is the editor of Louisiana Data News Weekly, he may be reached via email at ebmediagroup3@yahoo.com.