Christopher D. Smith, a professional hazardous materials technician from Winston, Ga., will serve as an advisor on the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals™ (AHMP) Board of Directors in 2009, according to a recent AHMP press release.

Smith will represent the 1,000 former members of the International Association of Hazardous Materials Technicians (IAHMT) and the entire first-responder community on the AHMP Board. IAHMT, which was founded in 2005 for hazardous materials technicians in the public fire services and private industry, merged with AHMP Jan. 1.

“As IAHMT members and the first-responder community at large become part of AHMP, it is important that we develop a seamless synergy between the new and the longtime members,” said Smith. “My role will be to help the AHMP Board build this synergy and to provide the individual members of the Board insight into the professional development, educational and networking needs of this constituent group. AHMP is noted for the excellence of its member benefits. I look forward to working with the members of the Board and Executive Director Cedric Calhoun to build offerings for this community.”