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Press Releases

Tips to Help Your Small Business Become Successful

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On November 14, 2018, Bank of America Business Consultant, Krystle Cobb shared vital information about business strategies, cash flow, planning and problem solving during our monthly COMTO meeting.  Cobb also highlighted Bank of America’s partnership with AlphaCode Incubate.  This partnership provides services to help create and grow young businesses by affording financial, technical, legal and marketing support/expertise.

All information given by Cobb was well received by the COMTO Jacksonville members.

Press Releases

Now Accepting Chapter Nominations for the 2018-2020 Executive Board

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In accordance with Article V of the Chapter Bylaws, COMTO Jacksonville is requesting nominations for Chapter Officers to serve for the period June 2018 thru June 2020. The following officers shall be nominated and elected by the voting membership:

1. Chapter President
2. First-Vice President
3. Second-Vice President
4. Secretary
5. Treasurer

All members “in good standing” are eligible to nominate, to be nominated and hold office.  A member in good standing is herein defined as being current with respect to dues payments.

Multiple nominations are allowed. Each nomination requires a separate submission. Nominations will close Friday, April 13, 2018 at 5:00p.m.

Meet the candidates at the April 18, 2018 Monthly Membership Meeting.

The voting period is April 23 – May 4, 2018. You will receive a voting notification.

The Committee will announce results of the election on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at the Monthly Membership Meeting. New officers will be sworn in.

We look forward to a successful election with the participation of all eligible members.  Please complete this nomination form which is due by close of business Friday, April 13, 2018.

View COMTO National Bylaws :

If you have any questions contact a member of the Elections Committee:
Aisha Eccleston – [email protected]
Sherri Barr – [email protected]
Endya Freeman – [email protected]

Press Releases

COMTO Jacksonville Gives to Local Senior Citizens

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (December 16, 2016) – Members of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Jacksonville Chapter boarded a Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) Trolley to deliver holiday gifts senior residents of Peaches NA Basket and Harris House assisted living facilities.

Personal wish lists were collected from thirty senior citizens.  The lists largely consisted of basic need items like warm clothing and personal care products. Over the past 4 years, COMTO Jacksonville has supported over 120 senior residents that may not have received gifts otherwise.

This year’s outreach and social would not have been possible without our generous sponsors; Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), Anheuser Busch, Premier Management Corporation, Walmart, Total Transportation Corporation, International Association of Machinists, Mr. Robert Prince, JAXPORT, Ray Diggs, Giovanni Transport, McDaniel’s Construction Corp. Inc., Mrs. Betty Gambill, Mrs. Emma Gray, Mrs. Martini White and a host of individual supporters.

COMTO Jax Holiday Committee loading up the JTA Trolley to deliver the presents

 

COMTO Jax  Members Sherman Rothwell and Cathy Hussain presenting gifts at Peaches NA Basket  
Press Releases

Good Friends, Good Times, Great Cause!

The COMTO Jacksonville Chapter hosted its annual holiday social at The Candy Apple Café on Thursday, December 15, 2016 from 4:30 – 6:30pm. The event was an opportunity to thank our generous senior outreach sponsors. Without them we could not have reached our goal to support local senior citizens. The social also provided a platform for members to network with a wide range of transportation agency leaders and representatives.

Mr. Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., CEO of JTA accepts Platinum Sponsor acknowledgement.  Pictured with COMTO Jax Leadership –  President, Aisha Eccleston – 1st Vice President,  Edrena Bell – Secretary, Sherri Barr

 

James E. Sheck II, Fleet Manager for Walmart DC 6899 accepts Gold Sponsor acknowledgement

 

Mr. Dan Pearsall of Premier Management Corporation was a gracious Gold Sponsor. Pictured with COMTO Jax Treasurer Ms. Ida O. Blaylock

 

Past COMTO National, Board Chairman Mr. Bob Prince speaking to the guests about what COMTO means to him. At the event, Bob was recognized for his commitment and contributions to the transportation industry. Thank you Bob!   
Press Releases

COMTO Jacksonville DBE/SBE Committee Chair Honored with NAACP Award

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Ken Middleton, Senior Manager of Diversity and Equity Program at Jacksonville Transportation Authority was honored at the 51st Annual NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner with the Sallye Mathis Community Service Award.  The dinner was held on Friday, December 2, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront. Ken was selected because of his commitment and dedication to the city of Jacksonville.

Congratulations Ken! Our community is great because of people like you.

Press Releases

COMTO Jacksonville holds Workshop on Social Selling for Business Owners

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The November 2016 general meeting featured Greg Gutkowski,  President, Digital Strategies Training, Corp. He has over 20 years of multidisciplinary business experience spanning marketing, sales, and IT management as well as Internet software development, advanced data analytics, and journalism.

The presentation highlighted the fact that social media is used to drive business by most successful professionals and included tips on  social selling strategies, tactics, and tools that can help grow your business if used properly.

Press Releases

COMTO Jacksonville Supports Year Up Employment Program

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Vincent G. Sams, Employment Placement Manager for Year Up – Jacksonville gives a presentation at the October 19th membership meeting.  Year Up is a job readiness program that empowers low-income young adults ages 18-24 to go from poverty to professional careers in a single year.  Young adults graduate ready to launch a meaningful career and contribute to our economy and community. http://www.yearup.org

Corporate partners are needed. Please contact Vincent G. Sams to learn more about how you can help make a difference. [email protected] O: 904-632-3012 C: 904-570-8165

As follow up, on November 2nd, COMTO Jacksonville members Aisha Eccleston and Edrena Bell participated in mock interview sessions with program participants.

Edrena Bell, COMTO Jacksonville 2nd Vice President performing a mock interview with a Year Up student

After the event Vincent Sams said, “On behalf of Year Up, I wanted to extend a warm thank you for participating in our intern mock interview session.  Thank you again for paying it forward, providing young adults a pathway to success. ”

 

Press Releases

COMTO Jacksonville President Selected for USDOT Leadership Academy

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Anthony Foxx, United States Secretary of Transportation, and Aisha Eccleston
Anthony Foxx, United States Secretary of Transportation, and Aisha Eccleston

Our very own President, Aisha Eccleston, was selected to be a part of the country’s first-ever U.S. Department of Transportation’s Every Place Counts Leadership Academy held last week on October 5, 2016.

The day long academy joined community leaders to discuss the transportation decision-making process and how they can encourage more effective participation. Besides looking closely at how transportation decision-making works, academy participants will help design a digital “Transportation Toolkit.” The toolkit will focus on public-engagement opportunities that are associated with planning and project development requirements.

Press Releases

Jacksonville Chapter Wins Big at the 45th COMTO National Conference

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45th COMTO National Conference Attendees: Ken Middleton, Sherri Barr, Edrena Bell, Aisha Eccleston, Endya Freeman, Emma Gray and Ida Blaylock

Best Community Engagement Award

The Jacksonville Chapter was awarded the Best Community Engagement Award for its partnership with the Bridge of Northeast Florida. Chapter members directly engaged at-risk students from the Bridge by promoting the transportation industry as a career option. The Chapter also sponsored a Spring College Tour to FAMU and FSU. The Best COMTO Community Engagement award is presented to a chapter that has successfully demonstrated excellence in the planning and implementation of community activities that enhance COMTO’s image and create engagement opportunities for its membership through community service.

Jacksonville Transportation Authority for Safety and Innovation Award

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has been named a winner of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Industry Innovation Award. COMTO recognized JTA for its significant contribution towards increasing passenger and public safety. The 2016 Industry Award honorees come from all sectors of the transportation industry. Ken Middleton and Endya Freeman accepted the award on behalf of the JTA at the 45th National Meeting and Training Conference in Dallas, Texas on July 12.

The Industry Innovation Safety Award recognizes an individual, city or region for quantifiable and measurable innovative improvements within the transportation industry. To ensure that bus operators maintain the JTA’s high safety standards, the Authority installed a training simulator to provide them with remedial and refresher training. All bus operators are required to attend on a quarterly basis. The JTA also installed LYTX Drive Cams on buses to help reduce avoidable accidents and incidents before the moment of impact and analyze risky behaviors for corrective action. The program has resulted in a significant reduction in judgement errors and traffic violations since Drive Cams were installed.

“We are honored to be recognized by COMTO for our safety accomplishments,” said JTA Chief Executive Officer Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “The well-being of our passengers and bus operators is of utmost importance.