ATSSA honors four with national awards

NEWS RELEASE

ATSSA honors four with national awards

Awards announced at ATSSA’s 55^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 3, 2025) –The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) today honored industry veteran David E. Cowan of PSS Innovations with the Industry Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Association.

Cowan’s award and three others were announced at ATSSA’s 55^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, taking place through Tuesday at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

ATSSA also honored:

• Dick Albin, a senior safety engineer with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety, with the National Safety Award
• Kelly O’Brien, a reporter with WMUR-TV in Portsmouth, N.H., with the National Media Award
• Brad Meyer, a manager with HighMark Traffic Services with the Mark of Excellence Award.

David E. Cowan, Industry Achievement Award

The Industry Achievement Award is given to an ATSSA member for significant contributions to the roadway safety infrastructure industry.

David Cowan began his career 41 years ago after serving in the U.S. Army. He joined the family business, then known as Plastic Safety Systems Inc., in 1983. He started in sales and by 1991, had risen to the position of president and CEO of what today is known as PSS Innovations in Cleveland, Ohio.

During his four decades in temporary traffic control, Cowan served for more than 30 years on ATSSA’s Temporary Traffic Control Committee as a result of his passion for work zone safety. He also served on ATSSA’s Board of Directors from 2008-2011 and has been a member of the American Traffic Safety Services Foundation, the charitable arm of ATSSA, since 2016.

Cowan was nominated for the Industry Achievement Award by John Bassett, who has known him for more than 20 years. They met during Bassett’s 25-year tenure in sales management at 3M and it was Cowan’s commitment to integrity and sharing of himself that led Bassett to join PSS in business development a decade ago.

“Dave has been an example of what ATSSA represents—innovation, safety, unselfish volunteerism and leadership,” Bassett said.

Dick Albin, National Safety Award

Bassett highlighted Cowan’s career accomplishments including creating new safety standards and specifications including with the work zone drum “tire ring” and temporary portable work zone rumble strips. With his father, PSS Chairman David A. Cowan, he owns countless industry patents.

During his time as an ATSSA member, Cowan has taken part in 35 consecutive Convention & Traffic Expos, supported the ATSSA PAC, participated in the annual Legislative Briefing & Fly-In and arranged for PSS to sponsor the Chuck Bailey Memorial Scholarship, which is administered by the ATSS Foundation. That scholarship awards an additional $1,000 per academic year to recipients of the Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship in recognition of commitment to volunteerism. Students whose parent or spouse was killed or permanently disabled in a work zone incident are eligible to apply for the Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship.

National Safety Award: Dick Albin, a senior safety engineer with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety, is a “tireless worker” in preventing roadway departure and roadside crashes, according to Seth Chalmers of Dibble, who nominated him and has observed Albin for several years. Chalmers said in his nomination that Albin works diligently toward crash mitigation through his involvement with FHWA’s Proven Safety Countermeasures program and has been active in ATSSA committees and councils including the Guardrail Committee.

Chalmers noted that Albin, who previously worked for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), advocates for solutions that save lives and helps educate the industry through the many informational materials he makes available.

Kelly O’Brien, National Media Award

“He really believes in trying to do his best whenever and wherever he can to promote roadway safety,” Chalmers said.

National Media Award: Kelly O’Brien, a reporter with WMUR-TV in Portsmouth, N.H., was nominated by Tyler Dumont of the New Hampshire Department of Safety for her continuous “in-depth and accurate coverage of highway safety initiatives” in the state. Dumont noted that her reporting also provides residents and visitors with relevant statistics and risk indicators.

Mark of Excellence Award: Brad Meyer, a manager with HighMark Traffic Services Inc., has been active in the pavement marking industry for more than 40 years, including serving on ATSSA’s Pavement Marking Committee and Board of Directors. He also was instrumental in starting ATSSA’s first chapter, the ATSSA Northland Chapter, and establishing its annual How-To conference. With his business partner, he developed the first complete pavement marking monitoring systems, and was known for mentoring and training many people, according to letters in support of Meyer’s nomination.

“Brad has also been an advocate for specification changes to adapt and improve pavement markings and was always open to new ideas and concepts,” NorthStar Safety

Brad Meyer, Mark of Excellence Award

President Marc T. Rue wrote in nominating Meyer.

Mark Houdmann of Traffic Highway Maintenance noted that Meyer played a significant role in developing ATSSA courses, including the Pavement Marking Technician course in the 1990s. He also noted his passion for advancing courses and helping others in their careers.

“Brad’s knowledge of our industry and his willingness to share it with others has contributed to their success,” Houdmann wrote in nominating Meyer. “I do not know of a better way to contribute to the advancement of roadway safety through improved pavement markings than to share your knowledge and passion with the next generation.”

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ATSSA’s core purpose is to advance roadway safety. It represents the roadway safety industry with legislative advocacy and a far-reaching member partnership. It leads the nation in work zone safety training and education for roadway workers. And its members advance roadway safety through the design, manufacture and installation of road safety and traffic control devices. To learn more, visit ATSSA.com.