January 2024 , the COMTO Jacksonville chapter held its first membership meeting in 2024. We were joined by a very special guest that provided us with an inspiring dialogue and words of wisdom. Our guest was none other than Jacksonville Council Member Ju’Coby Pittman of District 10 and CEO of Clara White Mission. We appreciate her visiting and discussing the importance of non-profit leadership, civic engagement and community engagement in Northeast Florida. One takeaway from the dialogue “If your not at the table, then your own the menu”. Thank you our members and the ongoing business relationships that are being built between our members to continue to grow and develop this community of transportation leaders.
“Legacy of Leaders” is an inspiring TV show featuring interviews with successful entrepreneurs and leaders around the world. The show focuses on business, leadership, motivation, and success stories, with the goal of sparking inspiration and igniting success in the audience. COMTO Jacksonville President Donovan Calicker joined the show October 2023 to discuss all things COMTO including: the origins of COMTO Jacksonville, its significance to the NE Florida transportation industry and the upcoming 2023 COMTO Week. Tune in!
The TALON Forum included top industry leaders as keynotes and panelists to discuss why Jacksonville is America’s Logistics Center. The event was held on October 10, 2023 for an entire day at the Jacksonville Public Library. Professionals from all corners of transportations/logistics were in attendance including: supply chain managers, engineers, operation managers, trucking representatives, technology providers and attorneys/bankers focusing in maritime and transportation. The event mixed information and networking to ensure maximum participation for all in attendance. COMTO Jacksonville, in conjunction with, WTS Jacksonville collaborated to support a speaker for the event. The guest speaker sponsored was Michelle Dennard – VP for the Jacksonville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. She is responsible for the Branch’s board of directors and the Sixth District’s Advisory Council on Transportation and Logistics.
TALON is a collaborative effort between eight (8) industry-related organizations who focus on information sharing, workforce development, business and economic opportunities for Northeast Florida.
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The COMTO Jax September 2023 General Body Meeting was a huge success and we want to thank all of our members who attended!
Special thank you to Streeter Catering for the delicious refreshments. Thank you to the staff at the Open Innovation Center. The space is a must visit for creativity and inspiration. Last but not least, Thanks to Chief Innovation Officer for the JAX Chamber, Dr. Carlton Robinson for being an outstanding guest speaker!
The theme of today’s discussion with Dr. Robinson was centered on the importance of integrating innovation into career/business development and thinking outside of the box to uplift the Jacksonville community and beyond! Additionally, we were provided a historical context of the African-American entrepreneurs of Jacksonville that helped pave the way for many today!
As a token of appreciation for attending the 1st meeting of the year, all member’s names were placed in a raffle to win CLUB seat tickets to the September 26th Jaguars vs. Texans NFL game. We are proud to announce that new COMTO Jax member – Julius Richardson – President of Sunrise Talent Solutions was the winner of the Jags tickets. Congratulations to him and Go Jags!
We wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your participation in the networking social hosted by COMTO Jacksonville.
The event was a great success!
If you were able to attend, thank you for your presence and active engagement. We would like to extend a special thank you to Aura Plant Studio & Owner Cantrece Jones for graciously allowing us to host the event at your beautiful venue. Your support and generosity helped create an inviting atmosphere that fostered meaningful connections among the attendees.
Furthermore, we want to express our appreciation to the team at C&ES Consultants, Inc. The family over at C&ES is our Vibranium Sponsors for Bowl-A-Thon 2023 and spent some time with guests sharing valuable insights about their business and their dedication to supporting COMTO Jacksonville. For that, COMTO Jax says “Thank You”. Your commitment to our organization and the transportation industry as a whole is truly inspiring.
The networking social provided an excellent opportunity for over 30 professionals from various backgrounds to come together and forge new connections. By attending events like these, we contribute to the growth and vitality of our community in Northeast Florida.
Once again, we thank our attendees for their presence and contributions to the networking social. Their enthusiasm and involvement made the event a resounding success. We look forward to seeing more of you at our future events and working together to advance the goals of COMTO Jacksonville.
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On January 31st, 2023, the COMTO Jacksonville chapter hosted a lively evening social at Bistro Aix restaurant in Historic San Marco. This was a fun evening and a pre-cursor to the 2023 International Association of Public Transport (UITP) conference hosted by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.
The City of Jacksonville welcomed over 200 transportation professionals, worldwide, to discuss hot topics in the public transit space including but not limited to electrification, micro-mobility and autonomous vehicles.
Not only did this event draw many new and familiar faces; we enjoyed delicious appetizers, had the opportunity to hear from political candidates as they present their vision for the future and engaged in thought-provoking discussions and a lot of laughs! COMTO Jacksonville plans to host a quarterly social for the remainder of 2023 and look forward to seeing you at the next one.
Join us for networking, introduction of new members and learn about what’s to come in the upcoming year! In addition to this being a social outing, this kicks-off the UITP conference that will be hosted in Jacksonville, Florida (February 1 – 3rd, 2023). Reserve your spot here:
To celebrate the year’s end, COMTO Jacksonville teamed up with TALON (Transportation & Logistics Network). A wonderful cause brought together more than 75 transportation professionals from 7 different clubs, societies, and organizations. The Christmas event was held in Riverside’s iconic 5 points, starting on Hoptinger Rooftop. The group continued their networking and socializing by singing carols at Birdies 5 Points. In order to cap the night with delicious Mexican food, the group sang their way to 904 Tacos. In order to develop a more robust transportation network in North East Florida, COMTO is appreciative of the ties that are being forged.
COMTO Jacksonville joined the JTA, ATU Local 1197 and Sulzbacher Village to share in precious moments during the holiday season. COMTO members passed out Thanksgiving meals and hugs to residents at the Sulzbacher Village. It was an honor and blessing to be a blessing during this season.
COMTO was invited to partner with WTS – Jacksonville Chapter led by President April Bacchus for the visit of FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue. Secretary Perdue discussed the importance of community as a priority for all transportation and infrastructure projects. Our chapter and executive board was honored to have met Secretary Perdue and discussed how could COMTO / WTS further provide discussion about having a seat at the table. An amazing event at the River Club in Downtown Jacksonville. Additionally, we were greeted by the amazing Chairwoman of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority – Chair Ari Jolly! We are grateful for WTS, FDOT and the many organizations in NE Florida that are moving the region ahead!
The Premier Organization for Education, Empowerment and Engagement of Minority Transportation Professionals in Northeast Florida
