Max was born in Italy in 1968 and lived in Rome for 30 years. After college, he pursued his volunteer aspirations by working with different human rights non-profit organizations.

Upon arriving in the United States in 1998, and after moving to Southern California in 2001, he soon began volunteering his time with local agencies where he noticed the need for a stronger North San Diego County LGBTQ community. In January 2008, he founded the North County LGBT Coalition, a non-profit organization that almost immediately increased LGBTQ visibility in the North San Diego community.

In 2011 the Coalition became the North County LGBTQ Resource Center, where Max as founder he operates now as Executive Director. In 2008 he also found Pride by the beach, an annual festival that has grown to be the biggest Pride experience in the North San Diego County region.

Max is seasoned non-profit executive in organizational oversight, marketing/communications, development/fundraising, event planning, outreach, membership building and campaigns. Max’s provides ongoing coaching, board governance, training on LGBTQ competency and support for others on the team through the continue sharing of his knowledge, and experience.

Education and Training:

Max earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 2011. He has graduated in 2016 in a Master’s program for Non-profit Management and Leadership at Walden University. 

Languages spoken fluently: English, Italian and Spanish.

Trainer: Max has trained hundreds of nonprofit organizations on LGBTQI awareness and disparities. He trained government agencies, for profit enterprises like hospitals, community clinics and philanthropic organizations, but also school districts, universities, police stations, Sheriff departments on de-escalation practices and reducing impact of policing over communities.

In addition to his Executive role with the Resource Center, Max is active in the San Diego community at large in supporting immigrant communities, reproductive rights and gender affirming care. In his past role at the California State Board of Behavioral Science (BBS) he also advocated for increase access to mental health services.

Public Speaking: Numerous speaking engagements and presentations throughout the region in School Districts, Mental Health Providers, Hospitals, Colleges, Social Services, Police Departments, public institutions, and other Non-profit organizations.

Max is currently involved with:

• Oceanside City Commissioner since 2023 Community Relations Commission

• San Diego LGBTQI Leadership Council since 2009

• SD County Sheriff LGBTQI Advisory Council since 2013

• Oceanside MLK Scholarship Award Committee since 2013

• Oceanside MLK Civic Award Committee since 2013

Former:

• City of Oceanside Community Relation Commissioner 2008-2011

• Senate appointee -California State Board of Behavioral Science Chair (BBS) 20016-23

• Board member of the Oceanside Mainstreet Association 2012-2016

• Oceanside Library Board 2014-2019

• Advisory Committee for Behavioral Health Services since 2019

• Children Hospital Advisory Committee on gender affirming care

• FBI advisory summit

• San Diego LGBTQI Advisory Committee for the County of Education 2020-2025

Some Awards and Recognitions:

• 2010 San Diego Harvey Milk Award

• 2011 Lambda Archives “Heroes, Pioneers & Trailblazers” Award

• 2013 Martin Luther King Community Award by the City of Oceanside

• 2013 KPBS Local Heroes Award

• 2013 Stonewall Service Award, San Diego LGBT Pride

• 2017 Digna Ochoa Human Rights Defender Award Amnesty International #471

• 2019 San Diego Museum of History. Local LGBTQ personal Profile.

• 2019 City of Oceanside Local Hero for Independence Day Parade

• 2019 Citizen of the month award from Congressman Mike Levin

• 2022 50 most influential people in SD County Award

• 2024 Public Health Champion Award -San Diego Public Health-Live Well

• 2025 Community Leader Award- Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association

• 2025 LGBTQI Latinx Vida Honoree