Calling all small business warriors who feel chained to their business! Do you run your business or does your business run you? You’ve poured your blood, sweat and tears into it and it is time to set yourself free. I’m Bobby Mascia – owner of a wealth management firm, family office, manufacturing business, 18 store Dunkin Franchise, and de facto business coach. My goal? To liberate your business— whether it be operationally, prep for a sale, a legacy handover, or self-management. The roadmap to this freedom is something we will uncover together in Business Unchained.” Join me as I learn about fellow entrepreneurs, dissecting their past, present, and future.
About Maria Falzo
Maria Falzo is a PR and events expert, entrepreneur, and founder of The Hip Event, a boutique agency specializing in luxury brand experiences, high-profile events, and strategic marketing. With a career rooted in retail marketing and public relations, Maria has worked with top-tier brands such as Neiman Marcus, Hugo Boss, and luxury real estate firms, connecting high-net-worth individuals with meaningful brand experiences.
Her expertise lies in crafting high-impact events, from black-tie galas to intimate brand activations, always ensuring that clients receive an ROI-driven approach. Maria's entrepreneurial journey has allowed her to balance her professional success with her role as a devoted mother, shaping a business that fits her lifestyle.
Reference Links:
The Hip Event Social Media
Maria Falzo Social Media
Episode Highlights:
What makes an event truly unforgettable? Is it the grand venue, the meticulous details, or the emotions it evokes? In a world where luxury events are becoming more extravagant, what does it take to create magic behind the scenes?
In this episode of Business Unchained, host Bobby Mascia sits down with Maria Falzo, a top event planner specializing in high-net-worth clientele, to discuss her journey from the corporate world to launching her own agency.
(29:04) ”People will spend more money on personal events than they will on corporate events. It's that emotional connection”— Maria Falzo
The conversation also explores the challenges that come with planning high-profile events, including last-minute changes, difficult clients, and the pressure to deliver perfection. Maria explains how she stays grounded and maintains balance between her demanding career and personal life.
(04:15) ”I think a lot of people have a hard time dealing with high-net-worth individuals, and I think for myself, it took me a few years of just seeing a lot of zeros and a lot of digits before numbers just really didn’t matter to me anymore.” — Maria Falzo
At its core, Maria’s story is about passion, resilience, and the ability to turn a vision into reality. Whether you're planning your own wedding, hosting a corporate event, or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration. Let’s dive in!
In this episode:
About Bennett Maxwell
Bennett Maxwell is the Chairman of Dirty Dough, a cookie brand that skyrocketed from a single shop to over 70 locations in just 12 months. Bennett’s journey into the cookie business began unexpectedly. After a successful stint in sales at a solar company, he invested in Dirty Dough’s first storefront in March 2020, right as the pandemic took hold. What started as a friend’s small venture from an apartment in Arizona quickly evolved.
Inspired by the success of competitors like Crumble, Bennett pushed for franchising, only to find his friend, exhausted from baking around the clock, was ready to sell. Bennett took over the business three years ago, reimagining every aspect from recipes to processes. With a complete overhaul and a focus on centralizing production, Dirty Dough launched its franchising model in December 2021. In just a year, the brand expanded from seven stores to more than 60 locations and 13 mobile franchises. Now living in the stunning outdoors of Salt Lake City with his three children, Bennett blends his business expertise with a deep appreciation for nature.
Reference Links:
Bennett Maxwell’s Social Media
Dirty Dough Social Media
Deeper Than Dough Podcast, Hosted By Bennett Maxwell
Episode Highlights:
Have you ever set a goal so ambitious that it felt almost impossible? Imagine aiming to open 30 locations in five years, but instead, you find yourself skyrocketing to 90 locations in just under two years. How does a company transform from a bold dream to an astonishing reality in such a short time? This is exactly what happened with Dirty Dough.
In today’s episode of Business Unchained, we dive into the extraordinary journey of Bennett Maxwell—a dynamic entrepreneur who transitioned from pre-med studies to door-to-door sales, founded a solar company, and now runs the rapidly growing cookie franchise, Dirty Dough.
“I set a goal that I was going to work my ass off until I was a millionaire before I was 30. I hit that, and within a few days, I was working nights and weekends again I realized this was going to go on forever”- Bennett Maxwell
One of the most compelling parts of Bennett’s story is how he turned a potentially devastating lawsuit from Crumbl Cookies into a marketing triumph. Crumbl accused Bennett and his brother of stealing recipes, but instead of retreating, Bennett used humor and transparency to control the narrative.
“The moment of finding out about the lawsuit was pretty gut-wrenching. We’re just about to open up our first franchise, and we don’t have money to fight a lawsuit.”
Join as Bennett recounts his transition from pre-med to door-to-door sales, his solar company, and the launch of Dirty Dough. He reveals the hurdles he’s faced, the importance of solid business processes, and the drama surrounding the Crumbl Cookies lawsuit. Bennett’s humorous and transparent approach to the lawsuit not only turned heads but also propelled Dirty Dough’s rapid growth. This episode is a compelling exploration of resilience, the mindset for success, and the delicate balance between personal and professional life as an entrepreneur.
“I live my life after 5:00 as if I had $1 billion. I go on a two-hour bike ride with my five-year-old, and she tells me, “This is the best day ever.” We do dates every single day. Start living the life you want today, even if it’s just after 5:00.”- Bennett Maxwell
