Photo courtesy Metal Construction Association (MCA)
The Metal Construction Association (MCA) presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Dick Bus of ATAS International Inc., based in Allentown, Pa., during MCA’s meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz. Bus is a longtime MCA and Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) supporter and leader.
Under Bus, ATAS International has been a longtime member, supporter, and sponsor of MCA. ATAS was founded in 1963 by Bus’s father, Jack, in the family’s basement in Rochester, N.Y.
By the time the company moved into a large manufacturing facility in 1972, Bus was working in sales and accounting at the family business. In 1984, the company moved to Allentown to a more central location, and Bus hired personnel and managed the plant.
In 1985, Bus was invited to attend his first MCA meeting. In 1986, Bus was promoted to vice- president of ATAS, and ATAS joined MCA—kicking off nearly 40 years of engagement and advocacy.
In the 1990s, Bus became ATAS’s president. As ATAS grew, Bus increased his involvement with the association. He served on MCA’s board for 18 years, including as vice-chair from 2000 to 2006, and as chair from 2007 to 2009.
Bus was a main catalyst in the creation of the MRA, which started as part of MCA before becoming its own entity. Bus became MRA’s first president and held the position for 25 years. As MRA president, he also held a seat on MCA’s executive council.
During his decades-long tenure at MRA and as one of its founding members, Bus played a major role in the growth of the American and Canadian residential metal roofing industry, working to increase awareness, education, and demand among homeowners.
In 2008, ATAS purchased Brightsmith Coil Coaters, where Bus is vice-president in addition to being president of ATAS. ATAS has more than 100 employees at three plants.
Bus has served on the boards of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Manufacturers Resource Center in Allentown, and Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. Bus received MCA’s Swaney Award in 2011. He was inducted into the Metal Roofing Hall of Fame in 2013 and received MCA’s Triumph Award for Industry Champion of the Year in 2017. After 25 years, Bus resigned his position as president at MRA. He remains at ATAS and is involved with MCA and MRA.
