Leading the way

Young professionals in roadway safety and infrastructure forge ahead

ATSSA is cultivating the roadway safety infrastructure industry’s future leaders through a Young Industry Professionals (YIP) community.

Introduced at ATSSA’s 49th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, the initiative includes a task force of professionals under the age of 40, identifying ways to broaden their network and inspire innovative thinking.

One member of the task force is 29-year-old Preston Denlinger, sales manager at J-Tech, Inc.

Denlinger graduated from college, worked in construction, and met a J-Tech team that wanted to grow its sales presence. He joined the team five years ago and became sales manager by year three.

“I’m really blessed. I have a great team,” he said.

Denlinger, who considers himself more reserved, said he’s grateful for the ATSSA meetings he’s attended. He is now the treasurer of the Pennsylvania ATSSA chapter. While friends and family have helped him along his career path, he said “the involvement in the Pennsylvania ATSSA Chapter was very helpful.”

Denlinger is not the only ATSSA member who shares this sentiment.

Mike Granger Jr., president of Street Smart Rental, LLC (SSR), highlighted his career path.

At age nine, Granger attended national ATSSA events with father, Mike Granger. Over the years, he was mentored by industry professionals. By age 24, he held positions including operations manager, sales director, and general manager at the family-owned company. Two years ago, he became president of SSR. He has been to 20 ATSSA events, and served on the Northland ATSSA Chapter Board of Directors, as well as ATSSA’s Temporary Traffic and Control Committee for eight years, and the association’s Innovation Council for three years.

“I’ve seen a huge evolution within the industry since I’ve been a part of it,” Granger said. “There are a lot of young professionals in the industry who are ready for change and ready to do things differently.”

“Bringing in younger members is an important part of the YIP initiative,” said Courtney Neal, ATSSA associate director of member engagement. “Adding younger employees to ATSSA’s membership gives them the opportunity to get involved within the roadway safety and infrastructure industry.”

It’s an opportunity Denlinger embraces.

“The professional development opportunities are encouraging and exciting to me,” Denlinger said.
For more information on ATSSA’s YIP initiative, contact Neal at Courtney.neal@atssa.com.