BOARD MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Greetings from your ASCE clerk , Brenton Cole ! I ’ ve been in this role for the past three years and have introduced myself in prior newsletters , so this year I will share about a heartwarming trip I took with my family a few months ago . My wife , Melissa , is a first-generation American , born to Azorean parents . Her dad immigrated in 1977 to the U . S . from the small island of São Miguel , one of nine volcanic islands in the Portuguese archipelago , located in the Atlantic Ocean nearly 1,000 miles off the coast of Portugal .
We had the opportunity to stay at my in-laws ’ home in their former village and immerse ourselves in nature and the island ’ s rich cultural history .
The Azores are a world leader in ecotourism — a form of tourism involving responsible travel to natural areas , conserving the environment , and improving the well-being of the local people . Sustainability was born out of necessity for the isolated islanders , and it has become a way of life .
São Miguel is shaped by its active volcanoes , with dramatic peaks and valleys . Fumaroles , hot springs , and basalt “ lava ” rock occur in a number of places across the island . One way the locals embrace the volcanic nature of the island is by cooking food underground using geothermal heat .
A network of natural and simply picturesque hiking trails cover the island , although they are not for the faint of heart .
My daughter , Lainey , bravely hiked with us — and we were often rewarded with a waterfall at the end of the trail . Her and I both enjoyed learning words in a new language , and were fortunate to travel with native speakers . We spent time with my wife ’ s family and other local villagers . It was truly a remarkable trip .
I am happy to continue to serve the Board of Directors of New Hampshire ’ s ASCE section and look for other opportunities to help build relationships in this local industry . In 2019 , Jeffrey Merritt and I started Granite Engineering , focusing on land development in New England . We specialize in roadway design , subdivision layout , drainage analysis , construction inspections , and land-use permitting . We continue to add talented engineers to our team and provide our employees with unique and flexible work arrangements to match individual lifestyles .
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