Finding and keeping talented people is more critical than ever and is increasingly important for gaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Scott Wozniak, who has advised companies of all sizes across six continents and spent eight years at Chick-fil-A headquarters designing leadership development programs, will address that workforce issue as keynote speaker during the Feb. 19 general session of ATSSA’s 2023 Convention & Traffic Expo in Phoenix.

In his message, “Great Brands Have Great Employees – The Engine Behind Legendary Companies,” Wozniak will explain how to build an “employee engagement engine,” including providing five systems to attract and empower great people.

When ATSSA members arrive in Phoenix for the 2023 Convention & Traffic Expo in February they will find themselves in a city that’s made a name for itself as a pioneer in the testing of autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies. The region has embraced the technology and seen multiple pilots for grocery delivery as well as a driverless taxi service.

The Fall issue of Roadway Safety magazine—available online now—details these efforts in Arizona and reveals a resource for members to remove the fear factor from contract negotiations, offers members’ take on the value of in-person advocacy and explains how ATSSA’s ITS Team keeps pace with innovation.

An entire supplement is devoted to roadway worker protection and spells out efforts underway to improve worker safety from multiple perspectives.

Both issues are online now.

Nominations are now open for the National Safety Award with ATSSA’s other annual awards opening for nominations soon.

The National Safety Award recognizes an employee or recent retiree of a government agency who made a significant contribution to the safety of our nation’s roadways. Nomination forms are due by July 31.

Nominations for the Industry Achievement Award and National Media Award open in August.

Changes are coming for the Mark of Excellence Award, which recognizes an ATSSA member who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of roadway safety infrastructure through improved pavement markings.

Nomination forms for all awards are available on ATSSA’s Member and Industry Awards page.

ATSSA’s 53rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo will bring roadway safety experts and innovators from across the nation and the world to Phoenix, Feb. 17-21.

This five-day event will once again be the site of the largest gathering of the roadway safety infrastructure industry in North America and feature information on the latest advances, provide a look at the latest innovative products, offer dozens of education sessions and access to countless experts from all facets of the industry.

The event will also include a massive display of devices to keep roadway workers and the motoring public safe, all situated on the 226,300-square-foot Traffic Expo floor inside the Phoenix Convention Center.

The ATSS Foundation will hold its popular golf and sporting clays events, plus there will be additional opportunities for networking through special events for groups such as the Young Industry Professionals.

The Spring Issue of Roadway Safety magazine is online now and explores Ohio’s Smart Mobility Corridor along Interstate 33 between Dublin and East Liberty.

This 35-mile stretch of roadway in Northeast Ohio is a living laboratory where multiple organizations are testing automated and connected vehicle technology including ways to protect pedestrians. The project is a partnership between private industry and government entities as well as residents in those communities and has been dubbed “the world’s most connected highway.”

Convention Extra is also online and provides a commemorative of the 2022 Convention & Traffic Expo in Tampa, Fla., and an opportunity to see what you missed if you didn't attend this reunion of the roadway safety industry.