A picture of Max Mix founder Max with folded arms, looking into the camera.

About Max

Max is a young adult who happens to have Down syndrome. Like many individuals with special abilities, Max dreams to go to college and live an independent life through meaningful work. Max hopes to inspire others with special abilities and build confidence in the kitchen.

Four pictures of Max Mix founder Max's teams. From upper left moving clockwise: Max's Special Olympics basketball team, martial arts team, bowling team, and Rock Band 21.

Sports & Music

Max has always been passionate about sports and music. Today, Max stays busy with Special Olympics basketball, bowling, track, and Rock Band 21.

Various pictures of Max at work, including at Price Chopper, Schnuck’s the Renaud Community Center, and as an intern for Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips.

Meaningful Work

Max has always been passionate and proud to have a job, he enjoyed working as a Sacker at Price Chopper in Kansas City, an intern for Congressman Dean Phillips in Minnesota, and job training at Schnuck’s and the Renaud Community Center in St. Louis.

Two pictures of Max making his spice mixes. On the left: Max wearing an apron labeled "Chef Max: The Man, The Myth, The Legend," and mixing the spices in a blue mixing bowl. On the right: Max as a little boy, wearing a black chef's hat and holding a whisk. Underneath, a picture of spice mixes with hand-drawn labels.

How it all Started

Growing up in the hotbed of Kansas City BBQ and a dad and uncle involved in competition BBQ, Max Mix started with Max making spice blends as Christmas gifts for teachers, paras, family and friends. He would help measure out the spices in a bowl and then bottle the blends into up-cycled bottles with the labels soaked off. Max decorated his rubs with own hand-drawn labels. Turns out people really liked them and would ask for refills. It quickly became Max’s thing.

A picture of Max at a product demo with his parents and sister. All are wearing Max Mix branded aprons and smiling into the camera.

The Beginnings of Max Mix

As Max got closer to adulthood, we started helping him figure out a path to achieve his dream of long-term independence and explored the spice rub as a business opportunity. 

With initial funding from his high school graduation gifts and help from Mom, Dad and sister Maggy, MaxMix was launched in the Fall of 2023.

The dream is that Max Mix will provide independence for Max, provide employment and job training for others with special abilities, create awareness about the lack of meaningful and respectful employment in our special needs community and all while helping people spice up their life with flavorful food.

  • A picture of Max unboxing packages of Max Mix Spice Mixes.
  • A picture of Max at a product demo with his mother, wearing a Max Mix branded apron and shaking hands with a customer.
  • A picture of Max at a product demo, wearing a Max Mix branded apron and proudly presenting the table of his spice mix shakers.