ATAS News

West Coast Customer Service Rep Named ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa., has named Kristee Day the customer service representative for southern California, southern Nevada and all of Arizona. Day has worked for ATAS since June 2005, previously as the office coordinator for the ATAS facility in Mesa, Ariz. Day has more than 10 years of experience in customer service, including past employment within the roofing industry. “As West Coast office coordinator, Kristee had frequent contact with various customers and excelled at adding to ATAS’ quality customer service approach,” said Jim Bush, vice president of sales for ATAS. “Kristee, empowered with her natural customer service skills and what she has learned at ATAS during the past several years, is a welcome addition to the sales team.”
Manager Changes Territories Rob Szatkowski, CDT, was named territory manager of Las Vegas and all of Arizona for ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa. The former Michigan territory manager has worked for ATAS since April 2008.
“ATAS truly is a single-source metal manufacturer, focusing on commercial and residential metal applications,” Szatkowski said. “I am excited to enter this new territory—with different environmental effects and design considerations than my Michigan territory—and teach the construction community how ATAS products will meet their needs.” Szatkowski says a primary goal is to educate distributors, architects and contractors about ATA-Solar, a thin-film building integrated photovoltaic system manufactured by ATAS.
“Rob has a great opportunity to expand ATAS’ sustainable reach while also having a positive impact on this region,” said Jim Bush, vice president of sales for ATAS. “Many who live in the desert recognize how precious natural resources are and have begun to embrace products that save those resources, as well as lower utility bills.” Szatkowski lives in Fountain Hills, Ariz., with his wife, April, and son, Jacob. President Dick Bus meets President Obama, Promotes Metal The day after holding a Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth, President Barack Obama embarked on a White House to Main Street Tour to learn what residents of Allentown, Pa., are experiencing. Dick Bus, president of ATAS International, Inc., was selected as a small-business representative to have lunch with President Obama during the tour, which took place on Dec. 4, 2009. “The entire day was thrilling for Allentown and people within Lehigh Valley, but to be chosen as one of five people to have lunch with the President is an honor that I will never forget,” Bus said. The President began his day flying into Lehigh Valley International Airport and heading to the Allentown Metal Works Inc. facility. After the facility tour, the President spoke to a group of guests at Lehigh Carbon Community College about many topics, but the main focus was how to get Americans back to work and improve the economy. Allentown has a high unemployment rate (9.4 percent in December 2009) compare with the national average (10 percent in December 2009), so the conversation was personal for many attendees. Bus continued this conversation with President Obama during lunch, which took place at a local diner. “I told the President that if he can continue to help support sustainable building products, both for commercial and residential applications, it would be a good way to help fuel the economy. I also mentioned that the metal from the Cash for Clunkers program should be recycled so homeowners can then use the recycled metal for a new metal roof. Such a roof would last for 50 years while being more energy efficient, saving the homeowner money and creating more jobs,” Bus said.