Fredericksburg, Va. (January 14, 2016) – The multitalented Alan Thicke will host, entertain and lead lively talk show-style interviews at the American Traffic Safety Services Association’s (ATSSA) 46th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo Opening General Session at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La., Jan. 31. Attendees will be treated to question and-answer sessions with outgoing ATSSA Board Chairman Scott Seeley, incoming ATSSA Board Chairwoman Debra Ricker and Foundation President Sue Reiss.

“I’m honored to be chosen as the host of ATSSA’s Opening General Session during the 46th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo,” said Thicke. “ATSSA members have one of the most important missions — to advance roadway safety through the design, manufacture and installation of road safety and traffic control devices. They’re mission is to make sure America’s roadways are safe for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. I speak from the heart when I say that roadway workers have a dangerous job, and motorists need to be aware that they’re out there. My sister was a flagger on the roadways, and she was out there in all kinds of weather every day making sure motorists were safe. I spent summers working on road construction sites and helped build a bridge that’s still standing – and so am I thanks to road safety people everywhere.”

The Golden Globe and Emmy nominee, who is frequently known as “America’s Dad” from his role on television’s “Growing Pains,” is the author of two family humor books and columnist for the Huffington Post. Continuing to appear in big-and-small-screen movies, Thicke was master of ceremonies for the Emmy Awards, ABC’s Disney Christmas and Easter parades and Showtime’s “Comedy All-Stars.” He is a regular on television talk shows, such as “Good Morning America” and the “Today Show.”

Host of the “Alan Thicke Show” (1980-83), a talk-variety series that remains the biggest hit in the history of Canadian daytime television, he went on to anchor “Thicke of the Night,” a late-night show that rivaled (and lost) the challenge to Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show.” With typical humor, Thicke commented that he was “divorced and canceled in the same day.” However, it would be less than two years that he starred on ABC-TV’s hit, “Growing Pains,” which launched him into the international spotlight as one of television’s most beloved father figures.

Versatile throughout his career, Thicke played a hilariously pompous TV talk show host in the NBC series “Hope and Gloria” before transforming into the “bad guy” in roles that included “Obsessed” and “Any Place but Home.”
Trained in musical theater, he co-starred with Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander in “Promises Promises” and won critical acclaim for his role as Billy Flynn in the musical “Chicago.” He was named “Father of the Year” by the Father’s Day Council of Los Angeles, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Following ATSSA’s Opening General Session, attendees will head to the exhibit hall where 200,000-square-feet of products and services for the roadway safety industry will be displayed in 500 booths. Traffic Expo is the largest trade show for the roadway safety products and services industry in North America.

ATSSA’s core purpose is to advance roadway safety. ATSSA represents the roadway safety industry with effective legislative advocacy and a far-reaching member partnership. The association also leads the nation in work zone safety training and education for roadway workers across the country. ATSSA members accomplish the advancement of roadway safety through the design, manufacture and installation of road safety and traffic control devices. Visit www.atssa.com to learn more.