About the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)

Founded in 1971, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) was created to provide a forum for minority professionals in the transportation industry.

COMTO’s mission is to ensure opportunities and maximum participation in the transportation industry for minority individuals, veterans, people with disabilities and certified MWDBE businesses through leadership training, professional development, scholarship and internship funding, political advocacy, partnership building and networking opportunities.

The organization membership includes individuals, groups, transportation agencies, private sector corporations, non-profit organizations, and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs).  

Click here to download a PDF brochure about COMTO Jacksonville.

The 2024-2026 strategic plan is centered around the F.O.C.U.S.  (Fueling Opportunities & Creating Unparalleled Success) tagline and our goal is to not only promote service in our communities, but also incorporating excellence through scholarship and innovative forward thinking.

About COMTO Jax?

Chartered in April 2000, COMTO Jacksonville is the 23rd chapter that was inducted into the COMTO family.

In nearly 25 years of service, we have active members representing various premier transportation agencies such as Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA), CSX, Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) and many more.

We will continue our vision of educating and providing the community with programs and information relating to innovative multi-modal transportation initiatives.

List of accomplishments:

FY 2024

• Inducted the local chapter’s very FIRST all-female COMTO Jacksonville Executive Board in May 2024
• COMTO Jacksonville received the 2024 “Best Community Engagement” at the 53rd COMTO National Meeting and Training Conference in Houston, TX
• At the 13th Annual “Bowl-A-Thon”, the chapter raised and awarded nine students $15K in scholarships
• Received the CSX Community Initiative Grant
• COMTO Jax & WTS Northeast Florida held a joint “Minority Women Business Owner” panel event at CSX Headquarters
• COMTO Jax was a Hole Sponsor for the Jacobs “Bikes ‘n’ Bytes” 2024 Golf Tournament

FY 2023

• Introduced the Vibranium sponsor award ($10K sponsorship) to Construction & Engineering Services Consultants, Inc. (C&ES)
• The “Return” of the 12th Annual “Bowl-A-Thon”. Raising and awarding  the most funds in COMTO Jax history (over $30K), distributing the most scholarships in COMTO Jax history (9 recipients) and distributing the most scholarship awards in COMTO Jax History ($10K).
• Introduced initial partnerships with Crowley
• Hosted 2nd “Women’s Leadership Panel” including talented women leaders in transportation. Moderated by 1st VP – Greer Johnson Gillis.
• Garrett Morgan Day collaboration with JTA’s U2C Initiative and gifted students of Andrew Jackson High School
• Hosted Multiple Membership Mixers (January 2023 and May 2023)
• Collaborated with TALON for Holiday Bar Crawl event in Riverside / 5 Points
• Partnered with ATU 1197 and JTA Cares for Annual Sulzbacher Holiday Giving
• Fireside Chat with CEO Nat Ford of the JTA and President of JAXUSA Partnerships, Aundra Wallace
• Partnered with TALON for Career Fair for returning military veterans and their families
• Collaborated with WTS – Jacksonville for Meet & Greet with New FDOT Secretary – Jarred Perdue
• Hosted General Assembly Breakfast Meeting for COMTO members
• Hosted inaugural “Intern Lunch & Learn” event in conjunction with JTA. Over 30+ interns from all over the country learned about COMTO, the importance of 1st impressions and practiced their elevator speech. (Guest Speaker – Emmy Award Winning Journalist/Anchor Mr. Tarik Minor of News Channel 4 Jax)
• Over 30% of the Chapter attended 51st National Conference in Ft. Lauderdale
• Past-President Christopher Macklin –  The Reverend Jerry Moore President’s Award Recipient
• Mrs. Greer Johnson Gillis – Thomas G. Neusom Founders Leadership Award Recipient
• Mr. Robert “Bob” Prince – President & CEOs Award for Excellence Recipient
• Involved at 52nd COMTO National Meeting and Training Conference in Los Angeles, CA
• Ken Middleton awarded the Civic Equity award at 52nd NMTC
• Hosted successful “All Hands on Planning Meeting” at CSX Headquarters

FY 2022

• Welcomed the 7th Administration COMTO Jacksonville Executive Board of Directors
• Held the 1st In-Person Meeting in March 2022 (Guest Speaker – Mrs. Snowden McFall of Fired Up! Igniting Greatness in Achievers)

FY 2021

Highlights in 2021, despite the worst pandemic in modern history, Past President, Chris Macklin continued to advance COMTO’s mission by holding virtual meetings to provide updates and resources to help safeguard members from the virus.  Under his leadership, COMTO Jacksonville held a series of virtual conversations with:

•COMTO National President and CEO, Brad Mims, who now works in the Biden-Harris administration
•Ken Middleton, Diversity Officer at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority who spearheads the Local Small Business Enterprise Program and Micro LSBE Program. The initiatives are designed to help increase the number of small businesses awarded JTA contracts and pair LSBE’s with prime contractors                                                                                                                         • Dr. Shari Calicker of Ascension/St. Vincent’s, who shared insights about the importance of COVID vaccinations for frontline employees and the traveling public COMTO National Conference in Tampa, FL
• Greer Gillis, VP of System Development at the JTA who provided updates on the Authority’s partnerships with local health clinics to offer free transportation to vaccination sites
• Women in transportation such as Debra Johnson, CEO of Regional Transportation District in Denver, Adelee Le Grand, CEO of Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority in Tampa, and Ari Jolly, Chair of the JTA Board of Directors
• Honorable Judge Rhonda Peoples-Waters, Duval County’s first African-American woman judge
• Black History Month was celebrated to honor the contributions of the late Garrett Morgan towards the transportation industry                                    • COMTO Jacksonville awarded $7,000 in scholarships to four promising high school and college students who were recognized for their academic achievements and community engagement                                               • During COMTO Week in November, the COMTO Jacksonville chapter handed out 70 Thanksgiving meals to residents at Sulzbacher Village, a home for women in transition, with Local ATU & IAM employees and the JTA                                                                                                                                                       • COMTO Jacksonville and the JTA also hosted a national webinar about the JTA’s Autonomous Vehicle Program                                                                         •In December 2021, COMTO Jacksonville partnered with the Lane Avenue Development Center by purchasing Christmas gifts for infants and pre-K students

• Donovan Calicker, JTA Transportation Superintendent – Emerging Leader of the Year Award Recipient
• C&ES Consultants, Inc. – Historically Underutilized Business Award Recipient
• C&ES Consultants, Inc. – Corporation of the Year Award Recipient

FY 2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • COMTO Jacksonville created the virtual meeting series to stay connected, provide updates/resources and keep members safe from further transmission of the virus

• The COMTO tradition of spreading cheer during the holidays was continued by partnering with local senior citizen community in Northeast Florida for the eighth consecutive year

• With the heavy importance of education, the local chapter hosted discussions regarding the “Duval Half-Cent Tax – A Plan to Upgrade Our Schools” and the strong intentions of improving school systems within Jacksonville, FL and beyond                                                                                                    • Virtual events were held to discuss and promote the urge for citizens to vote in the U.S. States President Elections

FY 2019
• Awarded five (5) scholarships at our 11th Annual Bowl-a-Thon
• COMTO Jax member, Ken Middleton won the “Gerald Anderson Service Award” at the 48th COMTO National Conference in Tampa, FL
• COMTO Jax Member, Ivan Mote was awarded the “Industry Innovative Safety Award” at the 48th COMTO National Conference in Tampa, FL
• At the February 27, 2019 COMTO Jacksonville Body Meeting, over 60 attendees were educated on the JTA’s initiatives and projects that are underway with JTA CEO, Nat Ford as the keynote speaker
• Hosted Inaugural “Ask A CEO/Leader” Panel Discussion
• Held Inaugural “Small Business Exhibit”
• Partnered with JTA Cares and provided Thanksgiving Baskets to the Sulzbacher Village
• Developed and disseminated inaugural “COMTO Membership Survey” as a tool to receive membership feedback and ideas

FY 2018
• Hosted 100 year old WWII Veteran, Sollie Mitchell at the June General Body Meeting

FY 2017
• The organization’s highest honor, the Thomas G. Neusom Founders’ Leadership Award, was presented to Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr., JTA’s Chief Executive Officer.
• Emerging Leader Award – Christopher Macklin, DBE/Diversity Compliance Officer/Diversity & Equity Program at JTA
• Best Membership Recruitment and Retention Activities Award

FY 2016
• Industry Innovation Award – Safety – Jacksonville Transportation Authority
• Best COMTO Community Engagement Award for supporting The Bridge workforce development programs

FY 2014
• Named “National Chapter of the Year”

FY 2013
• Hosted COMTO’s 42nd National Meeting & Training Conference

FY 2010
• Best Grass Roots Activities Awards for the ’09 Food Drive, ’09 Toy Drive, and ’10 Garrett A. Morgan Day
• Diamond Club Award for contribution to the National Scholarship

FY 2009
• Best Multi-Modal Recruitment Activity Award for the EWC Tiger Team Hunt
• Best Grass Roots Activities Awards for the ’08 Food Drive, ’08 Toy Drive, and ’09 Garrett A. Morgan Day
• Diamond Club Award for contribution to the National Scholarship

FY 2008
• Best Grass Roots Activities Award for the ’07 Toy Drive

FY 2007
• Best Grass Roots Activities Award for the Salute to African American Inventors and Inventions: Ernestine Johnson Exhibit at Jacksonville Main Library

FY 2005
• Diamond Club Award for contribution to the National Scholarship

FY 2004
• Mr. Michael J. Blaylock received the National Executive of the Year Award

FY 2002
• Chapter hosted the Congressional Black Caucus and COMTO National Board Meeting
• Ms. Cynthia Austin received the Leadership Award

FY 2000
• Emerging Chapter of the Year Award