Anna Saylor was recently certified by the Society of Wetland Scientists Certification Program, Inc. (SWS) as a Wetland Professional in Training (WPIT).  The SWS developed this certification to identify individuals qualified to assess and manage the nation's wetland resources.  The program recognizes the wetland science training and experience of professional ecologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, educators, agency professionals, consultants, and others who practice wetland science.

The National Brownfields Conference is the largest, most comprehensive conference in the nation focused on environmental revitalization and economic redevelopment.  Following a successful partnership with the Land-of-Sky Regional Council on its first Brownfield assessment project in Madison County, North Carolina (see Altamont projects), Chris Gilbert of Altamont attended the conference in New Orleans on November 16 through 18, 2009. 

The Western North Carolina Health and Safety School’s annual conference was held on November 5 & 6 at Asheville's Crowne Plaza Resort.  The “school” is a nonprofit organization developed in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Labor, with the purpose of furthering safety and health education for members of business and industry. 

The Mungao sublocation of Kenya, a community of 8,000 people, needs assistance surveying water and sanitation needs and proposing possible solutions. The Asheville Professionals chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is gearing up to help address that need. Altamont is pleased to be sponsoring more than half of the travel involved with an EWB assessment trip, planned for November 2009, in which EWB members will gather data that will assist them in infrastructure master planning for the community.