Maxine Turner
Cuisine Unlimited
Murray, Utah

Maxine Turner’s interest in starting her own catering business began when she handled catering services for a local charity. The opportunity to learn more culinary skills came when a private school asked her to coordinate their lunch program.

After six years, her catering operation outgrew the school’s facilities. Maxine worked on a business plan, deciding it was time to open a corporate and social catering operation and small deli. With a 2,600 square-foot facility, she and her staff started marketing their services.

The next few years proved to be tough; Maxine had to stand up to the challenge of financial commitments while finding a niche in the catering market. It was through her hard work, the dedication of her employees, assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration Salt Lake City District Office,  her bank and purveyors, that Cuisine Unlimited pulled through. As evidence of the company’s success, it grew an average of 20 percent each year and Cuisine Unlimited moved into a larger facility.

In 1995, Maxine’s husband, Marvin, joined the business, and with their son’s participation last year, Cuisine Unlimited has really become a family venture. This year, Cuisine Unlimited opened three additional deli locations, and soon a long-awaited dream will come true when, with the help of another SBA loan, construction on the company’s own catering kitchens was completed.

Maxine and her staff have catered such events as the opening of the San Jose Symphony and various gatherings at the Lincoln Center in New York. Cuisine Unlimited was also among a delegation of Utah caterers asked to cater the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Last year, Maxine was honored as one of the top four caterers in the United States, and in 1998 was named Utah Business Woman of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Along with the success in her business life, Maxine has taken the time to distinguish herself in her community. She has served on many organizational committees, the Board of Directors of both the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Utah chapter of the American Red Cross. “I derive such satisfaction from knowing that I can make a difference for someone, whether a young employee striving to find a place or a business colleague looking for a new idea or a little support when the long hours and hard work takes its toll,” says Maxine.

When a competitor’s business caught fire recently, she offered the use of her ovens, refrigerators, and anything else needed to fill orders. When the owner expressed surprise at Maxine’s offer, she responded by saying, “We’re competitors, not adversaries. I think we can work together and help each other out.”

For more information about starting your own business, see the SBA’s Online Women’s Business Center.  You can even take a quiz .html to see if you’re ready for financing.