Dick Bus, president of ATAS International, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., has been recognized in the 2023 Lehigh Valley Business’ Power 100 list. The list includes 100 leaders within the Lehigh Valley who shape the communities and influence the quality of life in the region. Many on the list are leaders within the local architecture, engineering, construction and manufacturing industries.
Bus has served as president of ATAS International for 28 years and has been involved since his parents, Jack and Nel Bus, started the family business. In 1963, Aluminum Trim And Shapes (ATAS) began in the basement of their house in Rochester, N.Y. It has grown to become a global leader in the metal construction industry, and ATAS is proud to be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
Bus is responsible for oversight of the entire company. He also focuses on the company finances, including developing and maintaining relationships with vendors and customers. As a past chair of the Metal Construction Association and current president of the Metal Roofing Alliance, Bus has assisted in the promotion and growth of design and construction with metal components within the industry. He has also served on the boards of the National Roofing Contractors Association, the Manufacturers Resource Center in Allentown, and the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. Bus is the vice president of BRIGHTSMITH Coaters in Morrisville, Pa., and Trenton, N.J., a sister company to ATAS, which coil coats and post paints metal for ATAS, along with other customers.
His brother, Jim Bus, is executive vice president of ATAS and president of BRIGHTSMITH Coaters. Members of the third generation of the Bus family hold leadership positions in these companies, and Dick and Jim are preparing for them to eventually take over the management of both ATAS and BRIGHTSMITH Coaters. They include Mark Bus, national sales manager, and Eric Bus, operations manager (Dick’s sons), both of ATAS. Tiffany Hutcheson, general manager, and Tony Bus, operations manager, both of BRIGHTSMITH Coaters, are the daughter and son of Jim Bus.
Bus said in the past year the biggest issue the company had were delays from some of its paint suppliers, due to challenges they had obtaining components to formulate the paint. That has since been resolved. The challenges with the supply of steel and aluminum during COVID have also settled out, and the company is now well-stocked. “We still have occasional challenges in hiring people for positions we have open. However, our personnel turnover is less than the average for our industry, and we are fortunate to have many long-term employees with us. During COVID, while many employers were offering signing bonuses, ATAS paid a monthly bonus to all its employees,” Bus said.
View the list of all 100 leaders on the 2023 Lehigh Valley Business’ Power 100 list.
