The metropolitan area known as Detroit, Michigan, which unmistakably drives the southeastern Michigan economy most related to the auto industry, hosted the June 2002 annual conference of the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP). Environmental professionals, pledged to uphold the highest standards of environmental assay, planning, and management, met to conduct workshops, lead symposia on current topics, and launch for the first time a separate track in brownfields management. Michigan, having more than its fair share of brownfields due to its location near the epicenter of the “rust belt,” was a fitting place for the NAEP to move into the emerging field of industrial site management. Due to its history and location, Detroit is known for a number of dubious firsts that framed the conference and called for professionals to once again provide the leadership and technology development for which they are well suited. Thanks to the leadership of the NAEP, particularly Mr. Bruce Hasbrouck, the conference and the themes relied on past successes and looked forward to the needs of the future.