Max joined BLA in 2022. He received his education from the University of Illinois and began his professional career after moving to the Monterey peninsula in 2019. His rural midwestern background, rooted in the tallgrass prairie landscape, has shaped his design philosophy and appreciation of the native landscape. His respect and interest in native flora heavily influences his design methods with the aim of creating a more ecologically robust future landscape. Previous work and personal experience that focused on landscape construction, planting, and restoration have helped Max develop an appreciation for the craft and quality of materials and their relationships to one another. Max was quickly captivated by the rugged coastal landscape of California and enjoys hiking and backpacking in the Santa Lucia Range in his free time. Max also enjoys surfing, coffee, gardening, and being a dad.