Carbon County's Emergency Management Agency coordinator is among an elite group of emergency professionals.

On Thursday, Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard recognized Mark Nalesnik, who recently completed recertification for the Certified Emergency Manager designation through the International Association of Emergency Managers. The nonprofit organization promotes the principles of emergency management and represents people who work to save lives, property and the environment during emergencies and disasters.Nalesnik first qualified for the CEM designation in 2011 by submitting an extensive credentials package giving personal and professional background achievements and successfully completing a management essay and a written examination. To maintain certification, he had to show that he continually worked on professional involvement and education over the past five years.According to the letter sent to the commissioners and Nalesnik from Christian Lanphere, CEM Commission chair, "This is the highest honor of professional achievement available from the association, which has in its membership more than 9,000 emergency managers."Nalesnik is one of 1,629 emergency management professionals who hold the CEM designation."As a CEM, Mark S. Nalesnik demonstrated a high level of competence and ethical fitness for emergency management," Lanphere wrote. "Your organization is to be commended for having a professional of this caliber on staff."Gerhard said that Nalesnik does a great job for Carbon County and is dedicated to continually working to better himself and the way the EMA operates.Nalesnik said the recertification is a lengthy process, but was proud he was able to maintain the designation, adding that he had to show that he continued his education, participated in trainings, interacted with area legislators and more.Nalesnik can be seen working in a variety of positions through his job, from conducting trainings to being a point person on-scene during emergencies that require a mobile command unit.Last year, a few incidents he was involved in included a search for a missing person in a rocky terrain area of Nesquehoning, the FBI response to possible bomb-making materials in Summit Hill and an oil spill on Panther Valley School District grounds.