ATSSA announces speakers for 49th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo’s Opening General Session

Inspiring speakers to kickoff premier roadway safety event in North America, Feb. 8-12, 2019

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (January 15, 2019) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) has a lineup of innovative and inspiring speakers for the 49^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo Opening General Session (OGS) in Tampa, Florida, Feb. 8-12, 2019 at the Tampa Convention Center.

ATSSA is the roadway safety infrastructure industry association that represents more than 1,500 member companies that manufacture, supply, and install roadway safety infrastructure devices across the United States. The event brings together over 3,500 roadway safety professionals, transportation officials, business leaders, government officials, manufacturers, corporate roadway department personnel, and other industry professionals from around the world.

This year’s OGS speakers will discuss the emergence of innovative technologies in transportation and roadway safety infrastructure, ATSSA’s work to influence the roadway safety infrastructure industry, and demonstrate how the association’s leadership inspires impactful change and prepares the industry for the future ahead.

Host/Moderator Sterling Hawkins from the Center of Advancing Retail & Technology (CART) is actively shaping the future of commerce by helping others create and respond to innovation in a way that betters businesses, communities, and the human condition. As a business leader, entrepreneur investor and futurist, Sterling is an internationally renowned keynote speaker. He has worked with academic institutions the likes of Stanford, Cornell, and the University of Texas and annually evaluates over 1,000 innovative technologies that dynamically change how people fulfill their wants and needs. He has worked with countless startups, investment groups, retailers, brands and Fortune 500 companies including P&G, Mitsubishi, Zebra Technologies, Stater Bros., and more to ignite innovative thinking inside their organizations.

More information about Opening General Session speakers:

ATSSA Chair Juan Arvizu will provide highlights of his first year as chair, including ATSSA’s mission, what to expect at this year’s convention, plus an overview of the current state of the roadway safety industry. Juan was selected to serve as the ATSSA chair at ATSSA’s 48th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in San Antonio, Texas. He has been a member of the association for 22 years and is the chief operating officer and part owner of Pavement Marking Inc.

The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation President David Krahulec is a managing partner of Horizon Signal Technologies, Inc., a leading manufacturer of portable traffic signals. He has a 40-year proven history of providing innovative solutions and has been committed to work zone safety. Krahulec also serves as a contributing member of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

John Corbin is the Connected Automated Vehicle Program Manager for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Operations, and is also a Professor of Practice at the University of Wisconsin College of Engineering. Mr. Corbin previously served as the Director of Traffic Operations in Wisconsin and Iowa DOTs.

Amy Ford is the Chief of Advanced Mobility at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), responsible for accelerating innovation and technologies that maximize the experience of people, goods, and information moving on Colorado’s transportation system. She directs program strategy of various divisions including Mobility Operations, which manages Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Safety & Traffic Engineering and other Traffic Operations programs.

Sarah Sladek is a best-selling author, speaker, and CEO of XYZ University. Since 2002, her life's work has been dedicated to helping organizations engage future generations of members and talent. As the founder and CEO of XYZ University, Sarah has grown a future-focused company comprised of generational researchers, presenters, and strategists.

“We’re excited. The OGS speakers are sure to make for an exciting start to the 49th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. With ATSSA’s role as the leader in the roadway safety industry, it was crucial to incorporate speakers that innovate, influence, and inspire, and we look forward to seeing everyone in Tampa,” said ATSSA Director of Meetings & Conventions Necoya Tyson.

For more information about ATSSA’s 49^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, visit expo.atssa.com.