Max West is bound to do something special in this town. You quickly pick up on this when you experience the New Jersean’s charisma, strong work ethic and positive attitude.
Max’s journey to the Hill started while he was still in school at the University of Pittsburgh. He took a trip to D.C. to visit friends and met staffers who worked on the Hill and immediately fell in love with the culture and returned to the ‘Burgh with a newfound passion.
Max capitalized on this excitement and started looking for ways to get involved politically in Pittsburgh, eventually making his way to DC after graduation. Like many of you reading this, he took a leap of faith, moving to D.C. without a full-time job.
Max started his Hill journey as an intern for Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) and quickly found his first paid gig as a staff assistant for Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio).
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In his new office, with Skyline Chili (shoutout Cincinnati) displayed on the wall behind him, Max quickly adapted to the Hill’s tempo, mentored interns and took on more responsibility in his office. After ten months, he was hired to his current position as a legislative correspondent for Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.). Max spent ample time skiing in the area growing up and is thrilled to serve the constituents of a place where his family has made so many memories.
Outside of work, Max is still finding a proper work-life balance in a challenging environment. An easy way for him to escape politics is by playing basketball and hiking, specifically at Harpers’ Ferry in West Virginia.
His best advice for staffers can be summed up in three “be’s”: be open to trying new things, be helpful and be curious. Stay open-minded and be willing to take on the challenges! His view on bipartisanship follows that same thought process, and he advises others not to get caught up in being right. He says we can all learn from one another, and it’s important not to shut out individuals who hold different perspectives than your own.
So, if you’re a staffer looking to make a new friend or get crossed up in hoops, look no further than Max West! You can reach out to Max on CNCT and schedule a time to grab a drink, perhaps his favorite, Bell’s Two-Hearted IPA.
This post was authored by CNCT staff. Do you know someone in Congress who should be our next Staffer Spotlight? Nominate them here. Want to download the CNCT app? Click here.