Max T. Holtzman

Principal at Pontos Aqua Advisory, Max Holtzman focuses on developing early stage companies and projects, including Pontos’ unique risk-focused RAS platform, as well as leading its institutional and governmental advisory work. Mr. Holtzman is a founding officer of Stronger America through Seafood, which strives to increase the U.S. production of healthy, sustainable and affordable seafood. Formerly, Mr. Holtzman was Vice Chairman of Capitol Peak Asset Management, where he focused on developing infrastructure projects and companies in Rural America. Prior to Capitol Peak, Mr. Holtzman was appointed by the President of the United States as the Senior Advisor to the United States Secretary of Agriculture. For six years, Mr. Holtzman advised the Secretary on the development of new public-private partnerships, aquaculture, trade, biotechnology and international food security. He also served as Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and as Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs. In these roles, Mr. Holtzman represented the United States in its negotiations with the Peoples Republic of China as a four-time Delegate on the Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade and was regularly involved with a multitude of international trade issues, trade missions and trade negotiations. He also served as the United States Chairman of the North American Biotechnology Initiative, which includes the United States, Canada and Mexico. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Holtzman, an attorney for over 20 years, provided strategic consulting to multi-national companies related to transportation infrastructure, project finance, public-private partnerships, health care and government procurement. He also served as a City Attorney and Special Counsel to several municipalities.

Mr. Holtzman is a Board member of K Street Capital, the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture and is the Founding Chairman of Adopt-A-Classroom. He earned a B.A. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and a J.D. from the University of Miami.