Max Potthoff

Max Pothoff is the U.S. Sustainability Manager for McDonald’s Corporation, where he advances regenerative agriculture, manages a renewable energy portfolio, and leads climate strategy for restaurants nationwide. Potthoff graduated with honors from Knox in 2014 with double majors in environmental studies and creative writing, and later earned an M.A. from the Yale School of the Environment.

What are some words you give to your fellow young alumni and current students who soon will be young alumni?

I think it’s great to stay engaged because the farther you get away from Knox, the more important it becomes as a foundation of your own life and journey. You spend four formative years here, and honestly, you are shaped significantly in that time. Staying connected and making an effort to stay connected to the friends and professors you also met, I found very important because it reminds you of the journey you’ve been on and how much you’ve grown.

What were some of the activities you participated in at Knox that you look back on and think, ‘those are opportunities that I may have only had here?’

I was in the student senate, cross country, and other sports. I also had the resources and funds that were available to go off campus. I don’t think I would have had the plethora of opportunities I had here at other schools because Knox is so generous and encouraging of creating your own experience and going off campus. I was able to use funds that were donated generously by alums to work in China and go to Africa. I think that is a unique experience at Knox – the accessibility, and if you have an idea, Knox will provide the infrastructure to help you follow through.

How did those experiences help you once you moved on from Knox?

I think it instills in you the confidence to know that when you do something, something else happens, and that you do have a hand in shaping your own journey. Anything I’ve done in my life since Knox is a version of what I learned at Knox at a bigger scale, but the foundation has been what was generated at Knox.

Sustainability is very important to you; you were involved in that during your time at Knox. The College is recognized nationally for its sustainability efforts. What does it mean to you that something that you worked on and were so passionate about here continues and grows?

There have been so many students I worked alongside, those who came before me and after me, who created that positive momentum. It’s fantastic to see because it can be hard on a campus if one person or one group puts a lot of energy into something then graduates. You can go through these ups and downs, but the consistency is a reflection of how much the College has committed, and how much each class and generation is motivated to continue that legacy. I’m so impressed by what folks have done since I have been here. I think it’s a reflection of what kind of students Knox draws and what the faculty and staff encourage.

What is next for you?

I love being able to positively influence the environment where possible. I think the moment we’re heading into, whether it is from an AI perspective or new technology or sociological, being able to cultivate your own voice, think independently, and understand the water you’re swimming in is more important than ever. The human understanding of the world is always valuable, but even more so now. That’s why I want to help the younger generation find their personal footing.