Julie Cunningham Building the people who build America. Organization: Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. Location: Washington, DC Website: www.comto.org

Biography:
Julie Cunningham is the President/Chief Executive Officer of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. Since her August 2001 appointment to this position, she has succeeded in working with COMTO members nationally to develop 14 new chapters in 12 states. She has facilitated strategic partnerships with several
national organizations including National Forum of Black Public Administrators, Women’s Transportation Seminar, Airport Minority Advisory Council, Amalgamated Transit Union and the National Transit Institute.

In her first days as President/CEO, she rallied COMTO members to develop a legislative agenda addressing Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Environmental Justice and Workforce Development relative to the Reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. She has also facilitated a partnership with the George Washington University to provide a professional development programs for COMTO members. Under her direction COMTO was awarded the 2005 Disadvantaged Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. States Department of Transportation. COMTO was also awarded a grant by the Federal Transit Administration to develop minority talent in the transportation industry.

Her professional career has also included positions in the energy and construction industries. She was employed as a senior consultant in the nuclear power industry with a national information management company and was responsible for developing both strategic and communication plans, implementing grass roots programs and facilitating work process improvements for nuclear power plants.

Ms. Cunningham served on the Board of Directors for Laketran, a county wide public transportation system based in Painesville, Ohio. Laketran won the 2000 Outstanding Public Transportation System Award 2000 from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). She is former Chair of the Lake County, Ohio Branch NAACP Scholarship Committee, United Way Account Executive of the Year, and YMCA Nominee for Career Women of Achievement. She is also a veteran of the United States Army.

Ms. Cunningham stated, “Our tag line is . . . building the people who build America, and we are frequently asked why we don’t say ‘building the people who move America?’ But we are involved in much more than moving people. Our members are engaged in establishing legislation, setting policy, and building, maintaining and repairing our nation’s infrastructure - all within the transportation industry. That’s more than moving America, that’s building America.”

Availability:
Available as a consultant and speaker.