He entered private practice as a founding principal of Associated Corrosion Consultants, Ltd. This firm provides a broad spectrum of independent consulting services including corrosion investigations, cathodic protection design and testing, contract specifications, coating inspections and corrosion monitoring. Mr. Holtsbaum prepared the corrosion control section of the Foothills application to the National Energy Board and testified to this section at both the Berger Inquiry and the National Energy Board Hearings. Reviewed cathodic protection designs in Kenya and grounding design related to cathodic protection in Libya. Conducted training and audit of cathodic protection systems in Thailand.

The oil and gas facilities on which corrosion studies were conducted include the following:
i) Oil and Natural Gas
     -transmission, gathering, distribution systems

ii) Waterflood
     -source and injection wells and lines
     -tanks and filters

iii) Propane Ethane and Ethylene
     -transmission and gathering lines
     -pump stations, terminals and cavern facilities

iv) Petrochemical
     -plants and refineries

v) Utilities
     -Waterworks
     -Power

The type of studies are listed below:

i) Corrosion investigations to determine type and cause.
ii) Cathodic protection design and specifications.
iii) Internal corrosion control programs.
iv) Hazardous AC voltage studies.
v) Stray current analysis.
vi) Permafrost studies.
viii) Corrosion of steel in concrete.
ix) Training