Leadership: Brandon Maxwell, CEO, president and co-owner; Noreen Lauf, director of finance and accounting

Website: mculinary.com

What it does: Provides food and beverage and event experiences for corporate, private and nonprofit clients.

How it leads: M Culinary is a homegrown company co-founded in 1997 by celebrity chef Michael DeMaria and business partner, Brandon Maxwell. The duo met as part of the team redeveloping Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn and T. Cook’s at Royal Palms Resort. The company’s portfolio includes the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Barrett-Jackson Car Collection Auction and the Fiesta Bowl.

Honor the 2017 Industry Leaders of Arizona at the awards ceremony and dinner on Feb. 23 at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. Purchase tickets here.