Meet Our President and CEO

Julie A. Cunningham is the President/CEO of the Conference Of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), and most recently served on President Barack Obama's Transition Team/Agency Review Group for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Since her 2001 appointment to the position of COMTO President/CEO, she has effectively led this national trade association in an unprecedented 35% expansion of membership. In a series of "firsts," Ms. Cunningham worked with the COMTO national leadership to: write the organization's first strategic plan; initiate a national campaign; develop new educational initiatives; and develop strategic partnerships with industry, private, and government stakeholders as well as collaborative and industry organizations. She successfully rallied members to develop a legislative agenda addressing Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Environmental Justice, and Workforce Development as relative to the Reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Ms. Cunningham also successfully forged partnerships with academic institutions (including Rutgers/National Transit Institute, George Washington University and Harvard University), to provide professional development programs for COMTO members. Under her direction, COMTO has been awarded the 2005 Disadvantaged Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the 2008 Diversity Award from the DC Chapter of the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS).

Ms. Cunningham offers more than 20 years of hands-on experience as an agent of change in executive program management, strategic communication, operational leadership, workforce development, and process improvement. Prior to joining COMTO, Ms. Cunningham held positions in the energy and construction industries. She was previously employed as a Senior Consultant at a Nuclear Power Plant and was responsible for developing critical strategic and communication plans, implementing grassroots programs, and facilitating work process improvements.

Ms. Cunningham is nationally known for her talent in building healthy, effective partnerships, as well as her strong advocacy for a level playing field and maximum employment participation for minorities, women, and the economically disadvantaged. She has ensured COMTO's continued partnerships with Congressional Representatives to co-host legislative forums emphasizing the importance of equity in the transportation industry. Ms. Cunningham, a native of the Cleveland, Ohio, graduated from Hiram College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management. Ms. Cunningham is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, and the Association for Conflict Resolution. She also serves as First Vice-Chair of the Black Leadership Forum, Inc (BLF). She is a veteran of the U.S. Army.

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