Pictured above from left: Jeff Price, President, Propeller Club of Jacksonville; Cheryl Freeman, President, Women’s Transportation Seminar, Northeast Florida Chapter; Aisha Eccleston, President, Conference of Minority Transportation Official (COMTO) Jacksonville Chapter; Ike Sherlock, President, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals; Brandon Nelson, President, Transportation Club of Jacksonville, and Scott Lane, President, JAX Chamber Transportation and Logistics Council.

The Transportation and Logistics Network (TALON) hosted a sold out business summit, “Progress 2018: Preparing for the Change to Come”, on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at the University of North Florida’s Adam W. Herbert University Center. The event was held to educate transportation professionals about the digital trends affecting supply chains.

The summit featured keynote speaker Brian Wynne, President and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). Propeller Club President Jeff Price served as master of ceremonies. The event was sponsored by Beaver Street Fisheries, Inc. Sea Best Corp., First Coast Industrial, The Grimes Companies, DAMCO, EnSafe, Main Ocean Port Services, and the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). In addition, panel discussions on transportation technology and industry projects, as well as networking opportunities, connected maritime, transportation and logistics professionals with information relevant to the industry.

The program concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the presidents of the six host organizations, Propeller Club, COMTO Jacksonville, CSCMP, TCJAX, WTS and the Jax Chamber T&L Council as they pledged to:

• inform maritime, transportation, logistics and transit professionals about industry developments;
• educate the public about the importance of the industry to the regional economy; and
• promote the Northeast Florida region as a hub for multi-modal transportation and logistics activity.

Photos from the event are now available on the Propeller Club’s Facebook Page, courtesy of Russ Dixon/Elvacomm. Additional details on the event can be found HERE .

 JAXPORT’s Lisa Diaz, Manager, FTZ and Logistics Services, today addressed attendees at the Conference of Minority Transportation Professionals (COMTO) Jax monthly meeting.

Lisa shared what led her to work in the transportation industry and how she earned her position at JAXPORT. She provided attendees with three steps to reach their personal and professional goals in 2018: believe and push yourself, find your inner motivation and show up each day.

COMTO is the nation’s only advocacy organization for minority professionals and businesses in the transportation industry.

The September meeting featured a keynote from Mr. Tony Cugno, AAE, IAP, Chief Operating Officer of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA). He provide an in depth overview of airport operations and discussed business opportunities.  Jacksonville International (JAX) has been ranked third best airport in North America by Airports Council International, an advocacy group.

At the 46th National Meeting and Training Conference in Detroit, Michigan on July 18th the Jacksonville chapter of Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and its members were recently honored with three awards at the annual COMTO Industry Awards Dinner during the organization’s National Meeting and Training Conference.

The organization’s highest honor, the Thomas G. Neusom Founders’ Leadership Award, was presented to Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr., JTA’s Chief Executive Officer.

COMTO Jax member Christopher Macklin, DBE/Diversity Compliance Officer/Diversity & Equity Program at JTA, received the emerging leader award.

The Jacksonville Chapter received the award for best membership recruitment and retention activities.

Learn more about each award here.

At the June monthly meeting, Kevin J. Holzendorf provided members an update on new funding in Washington, D.C. and how the changes affect transportation and infrastructure initiatives.  Holzendorf is an Account Manager at CISCO Systems, Inc., JTA Board Vice Chairman and APTA Board Member.

Also, the Jacksonville chapter awarded a $1,500 scholarship to Marcus K. Rentz. Rentz is an incoming freshman at Armstrong State University.