4
American Traffic Safety Services Association
45
th
ANNUAL
CONVENTION & TRAFFIC EXPO
ATSSA’S Annual Convention & Traffic
Expo Celebrates 45th Anniversary
with a History of Success
More than 3,000 attendees from 44 countries will view 500 exhibit booths from nearly 200 companies
at ATSSA’s 45th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla.,
February 6–10, 2015. As North America’s largest trade show for roadway safety products and services,
the Traffic Expo will encompass nearly 200,000-square-feet of the exhibit hall showcasing cutting-edge
traffic safety solutions and every product and service available in the roadway industry. From cones,
barrels, and traffic paint to striping trucks, truck-mounted attenuators and water blasting equipment,
the roadway safety industry will be represented in full force at the Traffic Expo.
Attendees will participate in committee and council meetings, the Opening General Session and
Breakfast, workshops, the Chairman’s Reception, the New Member Welcome, the sixth annual Circle
of Innovation
©
, the Innovation Award winners, the New Products Showcase Event, and more. The
American Traffic Safety Services Foundation, which exists to promote roadway safety through
charitable giving and public awareness programs, will display the National Work Zone Memorial,
which honors individuals killed in work zone accidents. With a focus on “Toward Zero Deaths,” The
Foundation presents two popular events, the 24th Annual Golf Classic Tournament and the 3rd Annual
Sporting Clays Event.
For nearly five decades, ATSSA members have met to find the best solutions and innovations to keep
roadways safe and ensure funding for the industry that makes “Safer Roads that Save Lives” possible.
ATSSA is celebrating the 45th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo by
providing an historical account of its background. ATSSA Meetings
& Conventions Director Melanie McKee, who has been with the
association for nearly a quarter of a century and is somewhat of an
ATSSA archivist, shares how the Annual Convention & Trade Show
has grown to become the most anticipated event in the country for
the roadway safety industry.
The Signal:
“When did you become the director of meetings &
conventions for ATSSA?”
McKee:
I began working as the convention & meetings director for
ATSSA on December 16, 1991. Previously, I worked in the
convention department for the National Office Products
Association in Alexandria, Va. My career began in government
contracting and human resources in the banking industry.
The Signal:
“Can you tell the members about the first Traffic Expos?”
McKee:
It’s especially interesting to look back and see what the first Traffic Expos were like and
how much the trade show has grown. In the beginning, ATSSA rented a ballroom for the trade show.
The first Convention & Traffic Expo drew 150 attendees with about 10 tabletop displays, and it used
8,000 square feet for everything—the meetings, exhibits and meal functions.
One of the earlier brochures I have is for the 6th Annual Convention & Exhibit at Mountain Shadows
in Scottsdale, Ariz., from March 14–17, 1976. Some of the products exhibited were arrow boards, hard
hats, first aid products, batteries and safety vests. ATSSA held a Get Acquainted Party, a Continental
Breakfast, general meetings and a luncheon.
For a complete list of
the 45th Annual
Convention & Traffic
Expo events, dates,
times, and locations,
click here:
> > >
Melanie McKee
ATSSA Meetings &
Conventions Director
