ATSSA Signal March/April 2020

American Traffic Safety Services Association 28 Meetings & Conventions ATSSA’s golden anniversary event sets record for attendance 50th Anniversary Convention & Traffic Expo celebrates our past while looking to the future The50thAnnual Convention&Traffic Expo set another record for attendance with 3,697 roadway safety professionals taking advantage of the opportunity to learn, network, and collaboratewith one another and with experts from across the globe. The golden anniversary event in New Orleans included five jam-packed days of events, highlighted by the Chairman’s 50th Anniversary Reception &Gala. The gala was a special event this year, provid - ingmembers anopportunity to celebrate the Association’s half century of lifesav - ing efforts in a jazz-themed setting with lavish decorations, a formal dinner, live music, and dancing. It also provided a curtain call for outgoing Board Chair Juan Arvizu and retiring President & CEO Roger Wentz, as well as a fitting venue to announce the Association’s five national awards. The convention’s five days of activities included running, golfing, and sporting clays to support The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation. Commit - tees tackled issues such as guardrails, pavement markings, traffic signals, and legislative advocacy. Andmore than 200 companies displayed their products over 65,300 square feet of exhibit space at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Opening General Session host Greg Schwem kept things moving with a touch of humor. During that session, a three-member panel discussed the past, present, and future of the industry, offer - ing food for thought, like what happens when vehicles no longer use roadways? In the race to keep up with technology, how does the industry effectively share information? And how can we meet the challenges of manned vehicles and auto - mated vehicles traveling side-by-side? The session turned somber as the crowd watched a video showing photos of the 61 peoplewhose names were added this year to theNationalWork ZoneMemorial. Former Harley Davidson executive Ken Schmidt provided manufacturers an insight he encouraged them to consider as they think about the people on their team and their customers: People live for validation. As a result, he urged them to glorify the person not the product. Education sessions abounded at the convention with Traf fic Talks and Micro Sessions offered on the exhibit show floor and two dozen concur - rent education sessions led by indus - try experts in meeting rooms that offered opportunities for question- and-answer time. The final day included the ever-popular ATSSACircleof Innovationwherewinners of the Innovation Awards presented information on their new products and industry experts shared insights. If youmissed this year’s convention, plan now to attend the 2021 Convention & Traffic Expo in San Diego, Jan. 29–Feb. 2. A New Orleans jazz band entertains at the start of the Opening General Session on Jan. 26.