ATSSA The Signal Nov/Dec 2019

The Signal | November/December 2019 35 Member Engagement The rising generation Holst-Clay was chairing ATSSA’s Safety and Public Awareness (SPA) andMember Engagement Committees when the YIP program was created. The Member Engagement Committee launched the programat the 49th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo this past year. “I thought it was a great idea to get us ‘youngins’ together and see what we can do to help one another as well as to support the Association,” Holst-Clay said. “There are somany young professionals out there that would be great assets to ATSSA on both a national and state level, but they either don’t know how to get involved or are afraid to do so.” The purpose of the YIP program is to engage young professionals under age 40 in the roadway safety infrastructure industry and provide them opportuni- ties to network and further their careers, according to ATSSA Associate Director of Member Engagement Courtney Neal. “ The Young Industr y Professional programprovides a network that fosters peer-to-peer learning and connections to the industry’s past and present experts —offering a platform that cultivates our future leaders,” Neal said. Holst-Clayadded, “Itallows themtobounce ideas off of other young professionals, get their foot in the door as a friend or member of a committee, exchange ideas on both Associationmatters or perhaps their own companies, and network with individuals that they might not have otherwise met.” The YIP recognizes her journey may be different than that of her peers. “Not everyonewalks intoATSSAwith a life- long activemember, which I was lucky to have, so this programprovides themthat direction and motivation to leave their mark on the Association,” she said. Her advice to YIPs is: “Get involved. The best way to learn something youdon’t already know is to learn from those around you. Share ideas you have to improve things. Ask questions. Speak up. Volunteer. In the long run, this is themost beneficial thing for any YIP regardless of your position or company, and ATSSA is a great place to start doing so.” Holst andNeal are eager to see what lies ahead for the rising generation. “It’s exciting to seehowenthusiastic young people are about this,” Holst said. “It’s those people who are going to continue to make ATSSA so successful … that we can leave in those hands an organization that’s so important to us,” Holst said. Neal would agree, adding, “We must invest in the next generation. The Young Industry Professionals program helps ensure the future of the roadway safety infrastructure industry is in good hands.” AsHolst-Clay drives forwardwithpassion in D2K, ATSSA, the YIP program, and the roadway safety infrastructure industry, she concluded, “While I have a long way to go to uphold the ‘Holst’ name, I love running a business in an industry that is full of great people doing great things for our roadways.”  For more information on ATSSA’s YIP program, contact Neal at courtney.neal@atssa.com . • Online Flagger Certification (available in National, Spanish, and State-specific courses) • Operation and Application of Truck-Mounted Attenuators • Introduction to the MUTCD • Retroreflectivity for Sign Inspectors Register online today at ATSSA.com/Training or call 800-272-8772 POPULAR ATSSA TRAINING COURSES AVAILABLE ONLINE