NEWS
COMTO Members’ Sons Continue Stem Tradition as Finalist in FAA Airport Design Challenge
Congratulations to COMTO Michigan Board Member Dayo Akinyemi on his sons, Iyi and Ayo, being members of two teams selected as finalists for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Design Challenge! The Airport Design Challenge is an interactive eight-week learning and collaboration opportunity sponsored by the FAA Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Aviation and Space Education Program. This competition received approximately 3,000 entries from 18 countries across five continents. Read more about the contest here. We are proud COMTO Michigan
NextGen Corner: Meet KCATA’s Whitney Morgan
Meet Whitney Morgan, Grants Specialist for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). Whitney has accomplished a lot in his relatively short time at COMTO. He is the 2020 COMTO Reverend Jerry Moore President’s Leadership Award recipient. This award recognizes a COMTO Chapter President who has demonstrated exemplary leadership within COMTO, significantly impacted their local chapter and shown solid leadership on the national level. While his tenure as COMTO Kansas City President has concluded, he is still active in the chapter
GCRTA Signs The Hispanic Promise
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) is the first transit authority pledging to hire, promote, retain and develop Hispanic employees. On Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at the conclusion of a GCRTA Board meeting, agency leadership made it official with the signing of The Hispanic Promise by GCRTA General Manager, Chief Executive Officer India Birdsong and RTA Board Member, Roberta Duarte. The Hispanic Promise launched at the 2019 World Economic Summit. The promise asks leaders to commit to creating Hispanic-friendly
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to Provide Keynote Address and Receive Living Legend Award at COMTO Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Awards Ceremony
For Immediate ReleaseFebruary 11, 2022 Alexandria, VA—Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is confirmed for the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Awards Ceremony as the keynote speaker and recipient of the COMTO Living Legend Award. COMTO will honor 16 women who have excelled as transportation leaders at the 11th Annual Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Awards Breakfast on March 16, 2022, from 8:00 am–10:00 am ET at the Ronald Reagan Building and
Burns & McDonnell Welcomes Cyrill Weems as Director of Infrastructure in Detroit
With more than 20 years of experience, Cyrill Weems has joined Burns & McDonnell to lead and support infrastructure development in Michigan. Bringing with him an extensive background in transportation and water, Weems will be key to the firm’s continued success and service expansion into a number of industries, strengthening the firm’s partnerships in Detroit.
COMTO to Honor 15 Women Leading and Advancing America’s Transportation Industry During Women’s History Month at the 11th Annual Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Awards
For Immediate ReleaseFebruary 7, 2022 Alexandria, VA—The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) will honor 15 women who have excelled as transportation leaders at the 11th Annual Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Awards Breakfast on March 16, 2022, from 8:00 am–10:00 am ET at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. To participate in this momentous celebration, virtual event passes and sponsorships are available for purchase at www.comtonational.org/cwwmn. In observance of Women’s History Month, to date,
Amplifying Diversity, Equity and Inclusion During Black History Month and Beyond
Dear COMTO Members and Supporters, I am thrilled to join President & CEO April Rai to form a dynamic duo of women of color at the helm of COMTO. Our leadership comes at a pivotal time in the history of COMTO as we surpass 50 years focused on advocacy for the underrepresented in transportation. As I reflect on the celebration of Black History Month, I am so proud to have a share in supporting an organization with such a rich
APTA’s Class of 2023 Emerging Leaders Program
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) invites emerging public transportation professionals to apply by next Friday, February 4, 2022, for the APTA Emerging Leaders Program Class of 2023! The year-long program provides individuals who have worked in the transit industry for approximately three to five years—including one to three years of managing tasks, projects or staff—with the skills, knowledge and networks needed for advancement. Participants benefit from skill-building workshops, roundtable sessions, online collaboration and unique access to the industry’s leaders as mentors and faculty. APTA
Just Released: 2022–2025 COMTO Strategic Plan
The 2022–2025 COMTO Strategic Plan outlines our roadmap towards a vision of full access and maximum participation in transportation for the underrepresented. Key goals and indicators around engagement, professional development and advocacy place COMTO at the forefront of a constantly transforming industry.
ACCELERATE MAGAZINE
ACCELERATE is COMTO’s publication that shares COMTO members making national news, industry trends, events and member career advancement.
