Coming from UVA Health, Max has firsthand experience inside one of the country’s most respected academic health systems, navigating the stakeholder complexity, institutional nuance, and mission-driven communication that defines this work.
From Academic Medicine to iFactory
Max holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s of Public Policy with a concentration in higher education and intercollegiate athletics from the University of Virginia. Before UVA Health, he built his marketing foundation in roles at Fleet Feet in Richmond, VA and My Galveston Getaway in Galveston, TX. That combination of higher ed policy chops and real-world marketing experience is exactly what drew him to iFactory. “iFactory’s work aligns perfectly with my interests and experience,” Max told us. “In my interviews, I really felt a connection to the leadership team. I could tell this was a place where people work really hard and have a strong connection to their work and their clients.”
"I could tell this was a place where people work really hard and have a strong connection to their work and their clients"
It's All About the People
Ask Max what he loves most about this kind of work, and the answer comes quickly: the people. “Every stakeholder that I work with is doing their absolute best to facilitate a high-quality education for their institution’s students,” he says. “Being able to listen to their needs and concerns and turn that into something actionable to better their institution is a gift.” It’s that mindset, combining his experience in marketing and higher ed to help colleges and universities educate the next generation of innovators, leaders, and professionals, that makes him such a natural fit for the work we do here.
"Every stakeholder that I work with is doing their absolute best to facilitate a high-quality education for their institution's students,"
A Family Legacy of Service and Education
That commitment to education runs deep. When we asked Max who his idol is, he didn’t hesitate: his grandma. She took an aptitude test in the late 1930s that earned her a scholarship to Catholic University in Washington, DC, went on to become a nurse in the US Army during WW2 in Germany and Austria, and spent decades working in public health in San Antonio. “Her bravery and commitment to public service is unmatched,” Max says. “She also instilled in me the value of education, which is a big part of why the work that I do is so important to me.”
Ironman Finisher, Tex-Mex Enthusiast, Terrible Singer
Outside of work, Max is no stranger to pushing through hard things. His dad got him into running at a young age, and he’s never stopped, recently leveling up to triathlons, with two Ironman 70.3 finishes in 2023 and 2024.
At the moment he’s based in Charlottesville, VA, but he’s originally from Texas. His favorite food is Tex-Mex, enjoying any combination of meat, cheese, and tortillas imaginable. And working for a New England-based company? He knows this is blasphemy, but he doesn’t eat seafood. No ‘lobstah rolls’ for him.
His karaoke song of choice is Landslide by Fleetwood Mac which is a bold choice considering he claims that he is a terrible singer. If that’s the case, he will be right at home at the next office party, where so many of us at iFactory like to belt out karaoke songs… yet so few of us can actually carry a tune.
He also brings with him an excellent officemate. Max’s eight-year-old golden retriever Randall works alongside him every day, and by all accounts is a model colleague.
Why We're Excited
Max brings something we’re especially excited about: real, hands-on experience marketing within an academic medical center. That perspective, understanding how clinical, academic, and institutional priorities intersect, makes him a natural fit for the complex stakeholder environments our higher education clients navigate every day. We’re thrilled to have him on the team.
Welcome to iFactory, Max. (And Randall.)
