Each year COMTO Jacksonville finds at least one opportunity to spread some holiday cheer to those that need it the most! In 2023, COMTO Jacksonville decided to extend a helping hand and provide more opportunities to be involved in the community and fellowshipping with transportation professionals.

November 2023

• Partnering with JTA Cares, ATU 1197, IAM, MV Transportation and Sulzbacher Jacksonville to provide families in need a delicious meal, a warm embrace and an infectious smile. Our members showed up in record numbers to show our community that COMTO has their back!
• Community Service Day with Malivai Youth Foundation as part of COMTO Week 2023. We partnered with this local organization to assist with their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Members collected non-perishable items to drop-off to the foundation in an effort to provide dinner to deserving families during Thanksgiving.
• COMTO Jacksonville partnered with TALON for a successful “Sock Drop” resulting in the donation of 3,600 pairs of new socks to those in need at Sulzbacher Village! This annual tradition is made possible by the collective resources of all members of TALON.

December 2023

• The perfect way to “wrap-up” the COMTO Jax annual calendar and put a “bow” on a year filled with education, empowerment and engagement! The Jacksonville chapter has really shown up and shown out this year. With such great gratitude from membership, we were able to give tokens of appreciation to two (2) senior living facilities in NW Jacksonville. The Harris House & Peaches NA Basket. Thank you to Jacksonville Transportation Authority for Santa and the Holiday Bus to spread some holiday cheer. Thank you to our friends at Walmart for their gift to assist us in our efforts to have a successful initiative! Last but not least, thank you to our voices of equity and committee members that helped plan and organize this event. The idea was “rebirth” from an earlier planning meeting held at CSX this fall and our members followed-thru. This chapter is truly a chapter of the people, for the people!
• After completing community service, we enjoyed some Christmas carols with the members of TALON and did a neighborhood pub crawl in Historic 5 Points in Riverside. The event was well attended and provided COMTO members and others to send positive energy as we closed out the year.

To sum up this year’s COMTO Week 2023 for COMTO Jacksonville, in one word: FULL! COMTO Week was held nationwide on November 6th – 10th, 2023. For COMTO Jacksonville, the week was completely filled with networking, learning new information, gaining new members, touring behind-the-scenes, giving back to the community and thanking and honoring our COMTO Jax veterans! Words cannot express how grateful we are for the dynamic planning team to assist with pulling this off!! The planning committee consisted of: Tsopie Trottie, Cortez Riley, Christopher Bedgood, Terri Smith, Tammi McGriff, Scott Williams, Terri James and Jeffrey Leeser!

Monday – Kicked off our General Membership Assembly with Gregory Grant – Director of Jacksonville Small & Emerging Business Office. Mr. Grant discussed innovative funding sources with the city and how to maximize opportunities to partner with the City of Jacksonville. The talented voice of Jasmine Romaine opened us up with some inspirational words to kick-off COMTO Week 2023.

Tuesday – Community Service Day with Malivai Youth Foundation. We partnered with this local organization to assist with their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Members collected non-perishable items to drop-off to the foundation in an effort to provide dinner to deserving families during Thanksgiving.

Wednesday – Membership Mixer at Blue Fish Restaurant and Oyster Bar. This event was an opportunity for new and current members to network and fellowship amongst other like-minded transportation professionals. In addition to networking, we were also able to say thank you to our COMTO Jax veterans for the work they’ve done to keep us safe. This was truly a fun and engaging night for all.

Thursday – In collaboration with the Jacksonville International Airport, COMTO Jax members took a tour of the operations facility to get a true understanding of the many moving parts within an “International” airport. After our exciting tour, we were provided lunch to wrap-up COMTO week.

Friday – “I am COMTO, I am an Equity Champion”. This portion of COMTO week was virtual and we leaned on our local historian to capture the moment of our members to exclaim why they are equity champions. Lastly, we’d like to extend a HUGE Congratulations to COMTO Jax member & CEO, Mr. Steven Davis & the entire Construction and Engineering Services Consultants, Inc. Team for opening up your new office location. Great to celebrate with you all during COMTO Week!

Additional special thank you goes out to the following:

• MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation 
• Jennifer Leonard Cook & Bryan Long at the Jacksonville International Airport
• JTA Cares Team
• Blue Fish Restaurant Staff
• Jacksonville Transportation Authority 
• Jasmine Romaine
• Gregory Grant
• COMTO Jax members and distinguished guests

“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.

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!

On June 24th, 2023, the chapter hosted the “Return” of the Bowl-A-Thon. It was the first event of it’s kind in 4 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was a resounding success as the event aimed to raise funds for scholarships. With immense gratitude, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who participated, including our generous sponsors, C&ES Consultants, Inc. (Vibranium/Title sponsor), Jacksonville Transportation Authority (Platinum sponsor), and Balfour Beatty (Gold sponsor). We also thank our many corporate sponsors, lane sponsors and individual contributors to the event. All in all, there were 25 various sponsors that supported this event. It is through their support and the dedication of our transportation community that we were able to award $10,000 worth of scholarships to 9 deserving high school and college students.

The Bowl-a-Thon brought together nearly 80 participants from within the transportation industry, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie, fun, and healthy competition for all ages. From families and friends to local businesses and organizations, the event truly showcased the power of community coming together for a meaningful cause.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the announcement and presentation of the scholarships. Nine exceptional students were chosen as recipients, each demonstrating remarkable academic achievements, leadership qualities, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities. These scholarships will undoubtedly serve as a stepping stone towards their future success, enabling them to pursue their educational aspirations and contribute to society in meaningful ways.

In addition to celebrating the scholarship recipients, we also recognized the outstanding achievements of our top performers. Congratulations to our award winners for the highest scores and highest team accomplishments. Your skill, determination, and sportsmanship were truly inspiring.

Highest Female Bowler: Melissa Marcha – Lee (Jacksonville Aviation Authority)

Highest Male Bowler: DGG

Top 3 Bowling Teams:

1st Place: Jacksonville Transportation Authority

2nd Place: Jacksonville Aviation Authority

3rd Place: Superior Construction

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our sponsors. Their dedication to empowering young minds through education is truly commendable. We are immensely grateful for their partnership and belief in our mission.

As COMTO Jax, we are committed to fostering educational opportunities and empowering the next generation of leaders in the transportation industry. The success of our Bowl-a-Thon not only highlights the strength of our community but also reaffirms our collective commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of deserving students.

Once again, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in making this event a tremendous success. Together, we are shaping a brighter future and creating pathways to success for aspiring students.

More Photos Available in Photo Gallery!!!

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.

The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Jacksonville hosted a Women’s Leadership Panel in commemoration of Women’s History Month in March 2023. Members from the public, private and non-profit sectors joined us as we celebrated and learned from women who are highly recognized in a variety of disciplines serving the transportation and logistics field.

Our Panelist included:

WTS Northeast Florida President – Jeannette Berk

Norfleet Integrated Solutions CEO – Dr. Wendy Norfleet

Acuity Design Group President/CEO – Cantrece Jones

Trailer Bridge VP of Customer Experience (Ocean Division) – Ann Phelps

Green Legacy Farm Owner/FarmHer – Ashantae Green

The panel discussion broached subjects such as leading in the transportation/logistics space, career progression, work-life balance and breaking down workplace barriers. This panel not only assisted our audience to realize their full potential but also illustrated the crucial role women play in this industry.

COMTO Jacksonville hopes everyone in attendance left the event motivated and inspired from the perspectives of these notable leaders.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor of this March Meeting and Women’s Leadership Panel

COMTO Jacksonville celebrated Garrett Morgan Day on February 24, 2023 at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). The local chapter hosted approximately 30 high school students from Andrew Jackson School of Advanced Technology and educated them on Garrett Morgan and his impact in the field of transportation in addition to educating them about careers in transportation and the importance diversity within the industry.

The day was informative and engaging including a tour of the Armsdale Test & Learn Facility led by the JTA Automation team, as well as, a presentation of the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U²C) Program. Next, the students were treated with delicious sandwiches, delectable desserts and refreshing beverages from Tidbits (minority owned restaurant). Last but not least, the students engaged in discussion about COMTO, opportunities in transportation, the scholarship program and Garrett Morgan’s contributions to transportation and society, as a whole. The students received goodie bags during their tour and embraced the Automation/COMTO team members for closing remarks and engaging questions. 

The Garrett A. Morgan Day Program was developed under the Clinton administration by Rodney E. Slater, former Secretary to the US Department of Transportation. The program is designed to educate students in grades K-12 about career opportunities in transportation. Garrett A. Morgan Shadow Days take place on any day during the month of February, in observance of Black History Month.

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.