Brandon Maxwell is the CEO, president and co-founder of M Culinary Concepts, the local award-winning hospitality brand. “My business partner Chef Michael DeMaria and I launched M Culinary Concepts more than 25 years ago as a single fine dining restaurant. Today, we are one of the largest privately held catering companies in the Southwest.” Learn about Brandon Maxwell…
Follow at: @brandonmaxwellaz and @mculinaryconcepts
Hometown: Somerville, New Jersey
First job: Was as a dishwasher in my family’s restaurant. I was born to a family of restaurateurs, so you can say it’s in my blood.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: Getting out on the trails in our state and seeing our spectacular desert up close.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: M Culinary Concepts becoming one of the major vendor partners for the WM Phoenix Open. The charitable giving associated with that event makes a huge difference in our community and inspires our entire team.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: The industry and business impacts of 9/11. M Culinary was only a few years old, and we were on a roll when travel stopped. Scary times, but in an unexpected way, that experience gave us knowledge that helped us successfully navigate the COVID pandemic.
Someone who inspires you and why: Chef Michael DeMaria, my business partner at M Culinary Concepts. He insisted we found M Culinary with a “food first” philosophy. All these years later, he still holds true to that principle.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Be ready to grind. Don’t be faint of heart. Do what it takes to thrive in a seven-day world.
Favorite quote: “A winner is always part of the answer. A loser is always part of the problem. Be a winner.”
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I’m a huge fan of reggae music!
What makes someone fabulous: Being able to combine a passion for something while having a blast doing it.