After graduating with his associates from Wayne Community College, Alton's first job was with the North Carolina Forest Service, where he started in 1983 as a Southern Pine Beetle Technician. He would serve with the organization for 30 years before retiring, holding roles including Assistant Ranger (1983-1996), Ranger (1996-2006), and Outreach Coordinator (2006-2012). In his most recent role as Coordinator, he was responsible for outreach to farmers, landowners, homeowners, state officials, and students to educate others on programs and services and recruit young people to natural resource careers. In 2013, Alton started with the Roanoke Cooperative as a Forest Management Consultant, where he assisted forest landowners, focusing on African American forest landowners, land retention, and wealth building through sustainable forest management. In 2016, he was promoted to Director of the Roanoke Cooperative's Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Project. In this role, he oversees the program to ensure it aligns with the values and goals of the partnership between the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the U.S. Forest Service, and the American Forest Foundation. Alton recently ended his nine-year term as a Board Member for the Conservation Trust of North Carolina in December 2023 and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for NC Tree Farm. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Network (SFLR) Leadership Team, represents SFLR as a Forest Climate Working Group member, and represents SFLR on the 1 Trillion Tree, US Chapter Stakeholder Council.