For the Thanksgiving season, we proudly partnered with the JTA, ATU and Sulzbacher Village to help those in need during this time of the year. We are appreciative of the opportunity to be apart of this special event each year!
For the October meeting, the COMTO Jacksonville chapter hosted a special guest from Duval County Public Schools. This guest was Paula Wright. Mrs. Wright is the Supervisor of the Office of Economic Opportunity. Her topic of discussion for this meeting was “Duval Half-Cent Tax – A Plan to Upgrade Our Schools”. Our speaker discussed the upcoming half-cent vote in the November election to assist in improving Duval County schools and opportunities to do business with DCPS. We are very appreciative of Mrs. Wright spending time with our chapter and sharing knowledge about initiatives coming from the Office of Economic Opportunity.
To access the recording of this historic August 2020 meeting about systemic racism and leadership, check out our YouTube channel.
The past 6 months have been unprecedented times, globally, with the spread of COVID-19. This has mandated citizens to practice social distancing, perform stay-at-home orders, and adopt wearing face masks. In an effort to pivot with the times, COMTO Jacksonville has created the virtual meeting series to stay connected, provide updates/resources and keep members safe from further transmission of the virus.
To kick-off the “virtual” conversation series, our COMTO Jacksonville August guest speaker was Dr. Nathaniel Glover, the first African-American Sheriff in the history of Jacksonville and former 29th President of Edward Waters College
Dr. Glover was born, educated and raised in Jacksonville and has been a leader of countless organizations for over six decades. Throughout his professional career, his mission has shined through with education and community service, in the forefront.
He is the recipient of many accolades including the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award in 1999 for “his untiring efforts to combat crime through community involvement and to effect positive changes in the criminal justice system”, the “Great Floridian Award” from Gov. Rick Scott in May of 2016 and on June 30th, 2015 Nat Glover Day was declared by the City of Jacksonville.
In retirement, Dr. Glover remains active and involved in community service activities, church and fraternity in Jacksonville.
About our Moderator – Dr. Tammy Hodo
Dr. Tammy L. Hodo is the founder and President of All Things Diverse LLC, an educational consulting company working with organizations to optimize employee productivity through recognizing the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Tammy earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Urban Studies, with a minor in Sociology in which she specializations in Race, Class, Gender, and Ethnicity. She is a TEDx Jacksonville speaker where she discussed “The Social Implications of Race.”
JACKSONVILLE CHAPTER AWARDED (4) SCHOLARSHIP
RECIPIENTS LAST FRIDAY!
During these uncertain times COMTO Jacksonville is still doing some great things in the community. Although we were unable to host our annual Bowl a Thon, the Jacksonville Chapter kept its promise of awarding scholarships to (4) deserving students. Please continue to support the Chapter so we can continue to support the community.
MEET THE COMTO JACKSONVILLE 2020 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
On behalf of the COMTO Jacksonville Executive Board, Members, Sponsors and Supporters, we congratulate each scholarship recipient and wish you much success on your college journeys!
This month we are featuring presentations focused on small business opportunities, growth and development with a keynote address from Mr. Opio Sokoni.
Opio Sokoni has completed several documentary films but may be best known for “Bessie Coleman Flying the Blues,” a documentary about the life of the first black woman to fly an airplane. She died tragically in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida in 1926. Opio Sokoni is a renaissance man with a plethora of skills and accomplishments. He is an author many times over. His books include, “I Want to Be a Lawyer When I Grow Up,” “Controlling Blue: Race Media and Policing” and “Bessie Coleman Flying the Blues”; to name a few. He is a law school graduate and an adjunct Professor at Jacksonville University where he teaches criminology.
Opio is the past president of a local branch of the SCLC – the organization Dr. Martin Luther King helped to found. He has also been in radio since 2003. His documentary films are as follows: Small City Big Hip Hop (feature), Meth Around (30 min. short), Turn Off Channel Zero (feature) and Bessie Coleman Flying the Blues (30 min. short). Sokoni has registered several screenplays including a feature on the life of Bessie Coleman. He has signed with an investment company to secure the finance needed to place her life on the big screen as his current and biggest project. Finally, Opio Sokoni is an FAA certified drone unmanned aircraft pilot and provide drone services via his company Scholar Research Academy, LLC.
Ever dreamed of owning your own franchise? John Wyche, Business Development for Triton Franchise will discuss the many exciting franchise opportunities available in the Jacksonville area.
JAXPORT marketing expert Aisha Eccleston has been named one of Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 under 40 recognizing Jacksonville’s most successful young business leaders.
Aisha has served in positions of increasing responsibility during her 10 years at JAXPORT, working in business development as well as sales and marketing. In her current role, Aisha provides guidance and assistance to freight forwarders and customs brokers looking to grow existing business opportunities and attract new business through JAXPORT. Last year, Aisha was nominated to participate in the country’s first U.S. Department of Transportation’s Every Place Counts Leadership Academy, held in Washington D.C.
Aisha is currently president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO Jax). She also gives her time to numerous community efforts, including serving as a JAXPORT mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
On Tuesday, April 11, 2017 COMTO Jacksonville hosted its 3rd annual college leadership event and provided local college students professional head shots. Forbes Magazine lists a professional head shot as one of the 8 Things Today’s College Students Must Invest In To Get Hired. The event featured special guest speaker Fred Haley who shared his secrets on how to achieve career goals. ADD VALUE!
Yetunde Oyewole, Coordinator, Small and Emerging Business Programs for JAXPORT informing the group on upcoming training opportunities. http://www.jaxport.com/community/small-business
JAXPORT immediate past Chairman and current Board Member Dr. John Allen Newman provided an opening motivational address at the monthly meeting held at JAXPORT’s Main Office today.
Dr. Newman discussed the importance of opportunities for small and minority-led businesses and encouraged attendees to take advantage of the educational seminars offered by JAXPORT and JTA. He also encourages those with access to opportunities to be door openers and not gate keepers.
