Inspiring Conversations with Chelsea Hand of The Maxwell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Hand.

Hi Chelsea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve worked in weddings and events for over a decade, and I advanced my career very quickly. I entered the workforce as most recent college graduates do, timid and unsure of myself or what I had to offer. I took an entry-level job at a busy banquet hall in New Jersey where I worked 80 hours and 12-15 events each week. I had a mountain of student loan debt, a small and over-priced apartment, and had moved to a new state where I didn’t know a soul. To say that my first year in the workforce was exhausting and full of challenges is an understatement.

Despite the long hours and high-pressure environment I was working in, I knew I was in the right industry. After a year in New Jersey, it was time to head to New York City. I spent roughly six years working in New York and made sure I got to experience different facets of the events industry; from sales to planning to venue management.

In 2017 I moved to North Carolina for a position with a restaurant company overseeing Event Operations for a portfolio of seven restaurants, and two years later took the next logical step for my career: entrepreneurship. I partnered with my husband and family to build an 8,000 square foot event space in South Raleigh.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
It is one thing to have an idea or to come up with a concept. That was the easy part. The hard part was everything else. It sounds simple – find property and turn it into an event venue, everyone’s dream job! I had no idea the amount of work this would take to see it through. It took roughly six months of looking at properties to find a location where an event space might be permitted. Having zero land development or construction experience, my husband and I would drive around scouring for land that had “for sale” signs, only to then find its flaw. We finally found a seemingly perfect 10 acre property and applied for rezoning so that our use would be allowed. At our zoning hearing, we were denied. We wasted months on this property. Start over. Try again.

I wish I could say that was the only challenge we faced in the three years process of building The Maxwell. We endured an intense permitting process with the city which caused delays, we hit cost over-runs, unforeseen issues with the property, we learned of the extensive city building requirements, and experienced immeasurable stress. There were dozens of times during our permitting process that I questioned every decision I had made up to that point. It started to seem like we’d never reach the top of the mountain. There were just too many hoops to jump through and the finish line kept moving.

By the time we were finally permitted to break ground, we were facing a global pandemic. COVID-19 cancelled mass gatherings and events. There was significant fear and confusion surrounding the event industry and no one was sure it would ever fully come back. We paused again to reevaluate our business plan in light of the pandemic. I was terrified at the time, but I am so glad we chose to keep going.

Before we even opened, we had 56 events booked. It was so rewarding to finally deliver the venue that so many people placed their faith in. I am truly looking forward to watching this business grow successfully.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Life certainly doesn’t hand you anything without you first proving resilience and dedication. Even small steps will eventually amount to miles and it is so important to recognize how far you’ve come, no matter how much further you have to go. I’ve also learned that you can’t do it alone. Having support and encouragement from family was absolutely vital in making The Maxwell a reality.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: TheMaxwellRaleigh.com
• Instagram: themaxwellraleigh
• Facebook: themaxwellraleigh

Image Credits
Jill Knight Photography Fabiana Skubic Photography Kate Pope Photography Fancy This Photography