In this informative conversation around COVID-19, Dr. Shari Calicker educated the COMTO chapter and its guests on the importance of vaccinations, for the community and in transportation. Dr. Calicker provided us an update on COVID-19, offered information about current approved vaccines, discussed the vaccinations impact on transportation (staff, leadership & customers) and offered some helpful tips to increase vaccination rates.
Our second guest speaker, Mrs. Greer Gillis, Vice President of System Development for the JTA. The discussion was around JTA’s efforts to protect the community and front-line employees against the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion points focused on free rides to healthcare, COVID-19 testing for employees, pop-up discussions about how to combat the virus and the development of the “Ride-to-Health” initiative.
In this conversation, Mr. Mims discussed the importance of COMTO, what leadership looks like in the transportation industry today and his excitement to take on a new role under the Biden-Harris administration.
Brad Mims stated, “It was an honor to have been the President of the COMTO National. It helped my own leadership skills to be aggressive and vocal. Looking forward to working with the Biden administration. It is all about learning to make things run.”
Shortly after Brad Mims, Mr. Ken Middleton joined us to discuss the JTA’s recent launch of two new programs: the Local Small Business Enterprise Program and Micro LSBE Program. These programs intend to: stimulate the economy, increase the number of small businesses on JTA contracts and create additional prime contracting opportunities
This season the COMTO Jacksonville chapter was able to donate much needed supplies to our senior citizen partner community here in NE Florida. With respect to social distance guidelines, we were able to package and deliver the items but unable to personally gift them to recipients. All in all, the event was a major success with being able to give and spread much needed holiday cheer!
COMTO Week 2020 went virtual! During the week, the COMTO Jacksonville hosted three events to provide members of the chapter to express themselves by sharing words of motivation, stories about their experience as members of this organization and engaging in a “virtual” finale with one of the charter members of the chapter – Mr. Michael Blaylock, former CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. In addition to celebrating 20 years as a chapter in COMTO, we were able to raise funds for our scholarship fund! Thank you to all that supported this day and continue to support our youth in their pursuit for education and training.
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.
For the September meeting, the COMTO Jacksonville chapter hosted two special guests from the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. These guests were Angie D. Williams, CGC and Wilbur Wright. Both are project managers for the System Development team focusing on design and construction initiatives. Their topic of discussion was “Economically Strengthening Businesses and Our Communities as we Construct Projects”. Our speakers engaged the COMTO Jacksonville chapter members in conversation about contractor and construction opportunities coming down the JTA pipeline. We thank both Angie and Wilbur for their time and insight to help build a better Jacksonville and support the small business community in NE Florida.
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
(Pictured from left to right – first row: Chris Macklin- President of COMTO Jax, Bethany Wright – Recipient, Nevaeh Sapp – Recipient, Jalen Chance – Recipient, Jada Cummings – Recipient, Ida Blaylock – 1st Vice President of COMTO Jax; remaining rows: Families of the four recipients) Bethany Wright- $1000.00 Recipient Bethany is a US Navy Veteran who specialized in Airborne Mine Countermeasures as a Quality Assurance Representative. She is currently studying for her Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation and Logistics at Keiser University and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Delta Mu Delta and the Keiser University Propeller Club. Nevaeh Sapp- $1000.00 Recipient Nevaeh is a senior at First Coast High School. She will be attending Florida A & M University where she will study nursing. Her goal is to pursue a career as a traveling nurse practitioner. Jalen Chance- $500.00 Recipient Jalen will be a sophomore this fall and is a student athlete at the University of Florida, majoring is Humanities. Due to COVID-19, he is currently living at home with his mother and two sisters. His hobbies are art, music, and editing videos.Jada Cummings- $500.00 Recipient Lee High School alumnus, this fall, Jada will be a sophomore at Jacksonville University. Her major is cyber security. Jada is a member of the non-profit, Groundwork of Jacksonville where she has completed over 100 hours of community service.
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!
To kick off the 2020 new year, the COMTO Jacksonville local chapter held its first monthly meeting at the Florida Department of Transportation Facility featuring guest speaker, Dr. Cleveland Ferguson III, Senior Vice President and Chief Administration Officer (CAO) of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.
Dr. Ferguson educated COMTO members and guests about the JTA’s new projects and initiatives for transportation and future plans to expand the industry as a whole.
The audience viewed blueprints, progression and the pending completion of the new JRTC (Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center) building downtown in the LaVilla area, which is set to be opened to the public at the end of March 2020.
Dr. Ferguson not only expressed his excitement about JTA’s accomplishments (past & present), but also encouraged everyone to “Embrace all things Mobility!” In 2019, the JTA served a whopping 11.2 million customers and Dr. Ferguson believes those numbers will increase tremendously as new developments for transportation will continue to soar. By using public transportation, he believes the consumer will benefit by saving money and utilizing reliable services that will hone in on the four major factors of the “New Mobility Paradigm” which are: integration, technology, innovation and mobility.
Thank you to Dr. Ferguson for sharing this information and we look forward to the grand opening of the new JRTC building which will house not only buses, but also multiple modes of transportation to serve the Jacksonville community.
The Premier Organization for Education, Empowerment and Engagement of Minority Transportation Professionals in Northeast Florida
