12 May May 12, 2025 – #CookieWars Lawsuits Bennett Maxwell and Random Acts of Automation Craig LeClair
Bennett Maxwell – CEO of Franchise KI
Bennett Maxwell
Bennett Maxwell is the founder of Dirty Dough, one of the fastest-growing restaurant concepts in the country, with over 80 open locations nationally and 450 slated for development. Their story has been one of rising success but also filled with adversity and challenges that changed their growth trajectory- battling through the internationally covered. #CookieWars lawsuits against multiple startups nearly took them out of the running before they had even begun. They leveraged some wildly novel yet accessible business and marketing strategy that took this lawsuit from liability to growth generator and he has a lot of insights to share with other entrepreneurs and innovators on growth, the adversity to success pipeline and controlling your own business narrative in 2025 and beyond. Dirty Dough uses centralized production with special machines to produce the world’s first 3 layer cookie. This also allows for a franchise to open up at half the cost of the competition, half the labor, while lowering ongoing costs. Other issues of waste, quality control, supply chain etc. are handled on the corporate level, resulting in the most simple food franchise concept in existence. Bennett Maxwell is a multifaceted entrepreneur renowned for his innovative approach to business and commitment to enhancing the entrepreneurial landscape. He was the driving force behind Dirty Dough Cookies, a fast-growing national cookie brand with over 65+ stores open and dozens more set to launch this year. Maxwell’s career spans diverse industries, from real estate in Utah to co-founding and successfully selling Switch to Solar. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, he is a sought-after speaker who regularly shares insights with the media. Bennett also hosts the Deeper Than Dough podcast, launched in 2023, where he explores finding joy and fulfillment in life through entrepreneurship and beyond.
Craig LeClair – VP, Principal Analyst at Forrester Research and Author of and
Craig Le Clair
Craig LeClair is Author of “Random Acts of Automation,” a blueprint for young people entering the workforce and for workers to deal with the advancement of AI in the workplace. I am a VP and principal analyst at Forrester, where I’ve worked for over 15 years. I’m recognized worldwide as a leading industry analyst on AI and automation, and the future of work. I’ve authored two previous books, How To Succeed In The Enterprise Software Market, and Invisible Robots In The Quiet Of The Night. Invisible Robots became the defining book on how the robots you don’t see are transforming the workforce. Prior to joining Forrester, I held senior positions at ADP, MITRE, and BBN Technologies. I’m frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, and many other publications and media outlets. I earned a BS in economics from Georgetown University and an MBA from George Washington University, where I taught Economics and Finance. Craig serves enterprise architecture and business process professionals. He is an internationally recognized expert in automation, AI, and the future of work. His technology coverage areas include robotic process automation, AI solutions in financial services, and the potential workforce disruption due to these technologies. His 2019 book, Invisible Robots in the Quiet of the Night, has been met with wide acclaim. A prolific writer and speaker, Craig is frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Forbes, and many other publications and media outlets. Dynamic case management, electronic signature, and customer communications management round out his coverage. Craig brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Forrester through his 25 years of experience in IT and business process transformation. Prior to joining Forrester, he was a vice president at ADP, focusing on next-generation strategies for investor communications. He holds a patent for electronic delivery of compliance information. Craig was also a cofounder of docHarbor, an early SaaS provider. He has both a strong business and technology background, including time at Mitre and BBN.