APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy networks with young people at COMTO’s National Meeting and Training Conference in Atlanta. Melaniphy also reported on APTA/COMTO joint activities at the DBE Assembly during the conference, announcing that this year’s International Public Transportation EXPO, Oct. 12-15, Houston, will—for the first time—feature a COMTO pavilion. At the welcome breakfast, a tribute to the late COMTO President/CEO Julie Cunningham, he said, “She and I had a special bond of trust, friendship, and passion for the future of transportation for all.”

Guests and dignitaries took advantage of the many opportunities to network during the meeting. One such group includes, from left, Freddie Fuller, Cubic Transportation Systems Inc. and COMTO second vice chair; Col. Jim Paige (retired), PTG Consulting Group and COMTO senior advisor and chief strategist; Shirley DeLibero, DeLibero Transportation Strategies LLC and former APTA chair; Robert Prince, vice president and industry liaison, AECOM, and COMTO board chair; Cynthia Jones Parks, Jones Worley; Warren Montague, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and COMTO first vice chair; Linda Washington, Washington Consulting Team and COMTO interim president/CEO; John Catoe, MV Transportation Inc.; and Joseph Erves, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, COMTO at-large board member.