Max Oppen is an objective reporter and freelance journalist who covers essential community news, municipal board meetings, public hearings, and local business profiles across New York's historic mountaintop region. A graduate of the University at Albany with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in English, he spent nearly a decade working as a communications associate for Environmental Advocates NY, where he utilized digital and social media to educate the public on state environmental policies and legislative voting records. Now reporting for local publications like The Mountain Eagle and The Overlook, Max documents critical regional stories ranging from environmental conservation and infrastructure updates to school board developments and municipal elections. Beyond his written work, he is a dedicated regional photographer who captures the local landscapes, wildlife, and community events that define the Catskills.