COMTO Chicago

Join us for the 2025 COMTO Chicago Scholarship Fundraiser! Your attendance and contributions will help us continue to recognize deserving scholars that are pursuing transportation-related careers. Learn more about one of our 2024 scholarship recipients, Ms. Felicity J. Crowder and don’t forget to buy your tickets today using the links below! Register Here! https://lnkd.in/ga6X_Ee7 ******************************************** Felicity is in her senior year at the University of Illinois at Chicago, majoring in Urban Studies with a minor in Public Policy. With nearly three years of experience as an intern across various departments at the Chicago Transit Authority and as a 2-year IYAI+ Innovation Challenge participant, Felicity has gained invaluable insights into the complexities of public transportation. Her focus has been on creating equitable, accessible systems and addressing disparities in urban planning. As an active community member and passionate advocate for social justice, Felicity is dedicated to inclusive policies that amplify all voices in public infrastructure development. COMTO Chicago proudly awarded her the  the Elonzo “Lonnie” Hill Mentorship Scholarship of $2,000 Congratulations, Felicity! We can’t wait to see all that you’ll accomplish.

Today, we celebrate and wish farewell to Bryan Robinson. 😭 Throughout his time as a transportation professional, Bryan has worn many hats—mentor, team member, leader, and friend. His impact at CTA has been profound, touching the lives of countless colleagues and friends. Beyond CTA, Bryan extended his reach to an even wider network of professionals through his dedicated involvement with us at COMTO Chicago. Bryan’s legacy of leadership began long before his time with us, as a proud member of the Marine Corps. His unwavering commitment to excellence and service has inspired us all. In short, we have been truly blessed to work alongside Bryan. As he embarks on his well-deserved retirement and new adventures, we want him to know just how deeply he’ll be missed. Bryan, thank you for your dedication and leadership. You’ve left an indelible mark on our organizations and the many lives you’ve touched. We wish you nothing but the best in this next chapter. You will be missed by many! #Leadership #Retirement #ThankYou #DEI #MarineCorps #TransportationProfessionals Rovaughn Graham, WSO, TSSP, PTSCTP Bryan Robinson Leticia Nieto Natalie Kindred Dyamond Scales, MBA, SHRM-CP Lindsey Simon Estupinan Gabriela Fuentes COMTO Headquarters Jeannie Alexander Alex Moreno, MSHR, SHRM-SCP Steve Fuentes Arlana Johnson Veda Duffie Sanja E. Noble, MBA PMP lisa smith Melinda Crosby Kasandra Henderson, MS Tanya A. Jessika Jordan Marlisha Nieves Michael Connelly

🌟 COMTO Chicago Scholarship Spotlight 🌟 This month, we’re proud to showcase the six outstanding students who received scholarships from COMTO Chicago in 2024. Today’s spotlight shines on Lauren Braswell, an honors student at Northern Illinois University (NIU), where she is pursuing a degree in Computer Science. During high school, Lauren excelled academically and actively participated in school clubs, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work. She earned a 4.0 GPA, was a consistent honor roll student, and took part in her school’s Dual Enrollment program, completing all her senior year classes at a local college. Lauren’s career goal is to become a Cloud Engineer, with aspirations to one day launch her own tech start-up. We are thrilled to celebrate Ms. Lauren Braswell as the recipient of the Dorval R. Carter Jr. Scholarship—a $2,500 award recognizing her incredible potential and achievements! 🎓 Join us in supporting future scholars! Help us raise funds for our 2025 scholarships at this year’s Scholarship Fundraiser on February 28. Register here! https://lnkd.in/ga6X_Ee7 #ScholarshipSpotlight #COMTO

Join COMTO Chicago for an unforgettable evening of, inspiration, and giving back at the COMTO Chicago Black History Month Scholarship Fundraiser! 📅 Date: Friday, February 28, 2025 ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM 📍 Location: The Martinique Banquet Complex Tickets: https://lnkd.in/ga6X_Ee7 This special event honors Black history while supporting the education and growth of the next generation of transportation leaders. Enjoy an inspiring program featuring dynamic speakers, opportunities to network with peers old and new, and a chance to contribute to a meaningful cause. Together, we can make a lasting impact. Mark your calendar, bring your energy, and join us in celebrating history and investing in the future. We can’t wait to see you there! Buy your tickets today! https://lnkd.in/ga6X_Ee7 Rovaughn Graham, WSO, TSSP, PTSCTP Bryan Robinson Natalie Kindred Leticia Nieto Shana S. Chicago Transit Authority Dyamond Scales, MBA, SHRM-CP

Looking back on an incredible 2024, we’re filled with gratitude for the remarkable journey we’ve shared. Thanks to the unwavering support of our members, the dedication of our leadership, and the commitment of our sponsors and partners, COMTO Chicago continues to thrive and make a meaningful impact in the transportation industry. Join us as we celebrate the highlights of this amazing year and look forward to an even brighter 2025. Together, we’ll continue to drive innovation, growth, and community. Here’s to a year filled with opportunity and success. Happy New Year! Bryan Robinson Rovaughn Graham, WSO, TSSP, PTSCTP Natalie Kindred Leticia Nieto Shana S. Chicago Transit Authority COMTO Headquarters COMTO National OfficeArdmore Roderick CohnReznick LLP Clever Devices R.M. Chin & Associates, Inc. Metra Commuter Rail HDR WSP Regional Transportation Authority of Northeastern Illinois (RTA) Allstate Roosevelt Moneyham, III, MBA Stephen Little Infrastructure Engineering Inc.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will be hosting two webinars to provide an update on its efforts to implement a bridge and culvert bundling program for state-owned structures and to introduce the expansion of bridge bundling to off-system structures.   As the State of Illinois expands the bridge bundling program to off-system structures, continued emphasis is being placed on supporting robust DBE participation. The DBE-specific webinar will include the same overview information as the general industry webinar, along with a facilitated discussion focused on the unique opportunities and perspectives of the DBE community.    Follow this link https://lnkd.in/gZmtBuTk to register for the Industry Bundling Webinar on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM   Follow this link https://lnkd.in/geK78b55 to register for the DBE Bundling Webinar on Friday, January 31, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Illinois Department of Transportation CDM Smith Rovaughn Graham, WSO, TSSP, PTSCTPBryan Robinson Natalie Kindred Shana S. Leticia Nieto

Wishing our LinkedIn community a joyous holiday season! We look forward to learning more about the many traditions celebrated by our wonderfully diverse community of transportation professionals! COMTO National Office COMTO Headquarters

SAVE THE DATE! Join COMTO Chicago for an unforgettable evening of celebration, inspiration, and giving back at the COMTO Chicago Black History Month Scholarship Fundraiser! 📅 Date: Friday, February 28, 2025 ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM 📍 Location: The Martinique Banquet Complex Registration link coming soon!!

Give it up for COMTO Chicago’s very own Natalie Kindred !!

It’s a celebration at the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials! Today marks 3 years of service for our dynamic President & CEO April Rai. Since April joined the team, COMTO has grown to include 40 chapters in North America and has earned the largest federal award in the organization’s history. We look forward to more years of continued excellence under her leadership. Please join us in congratulating April Rai!