ANAHEIM, Calif., Nov 24, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Willdan Group, Inc. ("Willdan") (NASDAQ:WLDN), a leading provider of outsourced engineering, public finance, and homeland security services to public agencies primarily in California and other western states announced it has established a presence in New York, NY to serve as the base for Willdan's Northeast Operations.

Tom Brisbin, Willdan's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Expanding our service offerings to the New York and New Jersey markets furthers our strategic growth opportunities and diversifies our regional coverage. Our initial focus in the Northeast will be on energy efficiency and sustainability services offered through our subsidiary, Willdan Energy Solutions (also known as Intergy), and on homeland security and emergency preparedness activities."

In conjunction with expanding its presence to New York, Willdan has engaged Kathleen Callahan to lead the company's Northeast Operations. A native New Yorker, Ms. Callahan served with distinction for over 30 years in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region II office, retiring in May 2008. During her career at the EPA, Ms. Callahan held a variety of key positions, including Deputy Regional Administrator and Acting Regional Administrator, and led the Agency's disaster response and recovery activities related to the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. In 2003 Ms. Callahan received the Presidential Meritorious Executive Award.

"Kathy Callahan brings to the job substantial expertise in sustainability and emergency preparedness, intimate knowledge of how government and the private sector operate and interact in New York City and State and New Jersey, as well as superb leadership skills," added Brisbin, "We are extremely fortunate to have Kathy head up our efforts."

Further, Willdan announced that Dr. Steven Cohen, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Columbia University's Earth Institute, has agreed to serve as a senior advisor to Willdan on matters relating to energy efficiency and sustainability. Dr. Cohen, who has been at Columbia in a variety of capacities since 1981, is a nationally recognized expert in environmental and sustainability policy issues and public management. In addition to his academic duties at Columbia, which also include leading the environmental policy program at the School of International and Public Affairs, Dr. Cohen writes a weekly blog on environmental and sustainability issues on the Green Pages of the New York Observer http://www.observer.com/stevecohen.

Jay Bhalla, President of Willdan Energy Solutions, noted, "Steve Cohen's intellectual insights on sustainability and energy efficiency, combined with his practical, hands-on understanding of how governmental programs work, will provide a great boost to Willdan as we pursue efforts to offer our services in New York. We are extremely pleased that he will be serving as our senior advisor."

About Willdan Group, Inc.

Founded over 40 years ago, Willdan Group, Inc. is a leading provider of outsourced services to public agencies located primarily in California and other western states. Willdan Group, Inc. assists cities and other government agencies with a broad range of services, including civil engineering, building and safety services, geotechnical engineering, financial, management and economic consulting, energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy, disaster preparedness and homeland security. www.willdan.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement:Statements in this press release which are not purely historical, including statements regarding Willdan Group's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, estimates, plans or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risk that the Company will not be able to expand its services or meet the needs of customers in markets in which it operates. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, a slowdown in the local and regional economies of the states where Willdan conducts business and the loss of or inability to hire additional qualified professionals. The Company's business could be affected by a number of other factors, including the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports including, but not limited to, the Form 10-K annual report for the year ended December 28, 2007 filed on March 27, 2008 and the Form 10-Q quarterly report for the quarter ended September 26, 2008 filed on November 10, 2008. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Willdan Group, Inc. disclaims any obligation, and does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release.

SOURCE: Willdan Group, Inc.

Willdan Group, Inc. Contact:
Kimberly Gant, Chief Financial Officer, 714-940-6329
kgant@willdan.com
or
Financial Profiles, Inc.
Moira Conlon, 310-277-4907
mconlon@finprofiles.com
or
Willdan Energy Solutions Contact:
Kathleen Callahan, Northeast Operations, 212-672-1933
kcallahan@willdan.com

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