Carlton Smith

He started adulthood young, dumb, and broke, and after a lifetime of hard work can finally say he's no longer young. As the Grateful Dead sang, "What a long, strange trip it's been."

A proud North Carolinian, Smitty loves just about everything the Tar Heel State offers, from eastern barbecue and scuppernong grapes to the Cape Fear River and the water industry that's defined much of his career. He began with the North Carolina Forest Service before finding his calling with the Public Water Supply Section, where he became a true "water man." Reading regulations, watching floc settle, and admiring unique water tanks somehow became sources of genuine excitement.

Committed to sharing what others taught him, Smitty volunteered with water training organizations throughout his career and was honored with the Order of the Longleaf Pine upon retirement. After a brief stint as a public works director, he joined NCRWA as a Training Specialist, where his passion for helping operators succeed continues today.

When he's not talking water, Smitty enjoys traveling with his long-suffering wife, collecting unusual antiques, visiting historic battlefields, and playing saxophone with several bands. Having returned to music after a 30-year break, he proudly claims the unofficial title of America's "Most Mediocre Saxophonist."

Whether teaching certification classes or swapping stories, Smitty brings knowledge, humor, and authenticity to everything he does. We're grateful he chose water training over a full-time music career and thankful he's always unapologetically himself.