The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) is the nation’s only multi-modal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing opportunity for minorities in the transportation sector. Since its founding, COMTO has grown into the premier national organization for access, training, education, professional development, and leadership in transportation.
Today, COMTO represents more than 40+ chapters, thousands of members, and a cross-section of transportation agencies, small businesses, consultants, contractors, nonprofits, and professionals across the country.
San Diego is proud to join this legacy and help carry it into the future.
April Rai, President & CEO, COMTO National
As President & CEO, April works to build upon COMTO’s 50-year history of ensuring transportation meets the needs of all users across 40 chapters in North America. With over 15 years of experience managing private, public sector and non-profit organizations, April’s career focus has centered on strategic partnership development, coalition building, people and project management. Under the direction of the COMTO Board of Directors Chair, Tanya Adams, April provides strategic leadership, guidance and ensures COMTO operates effectively to further the mission.
Previously, April served as Deputy Executive Director for the Women’s Transportation Seminar International (WTS), partnering with the Executive Director to achieve the WTS mission and vision. In that role, April focused on the management of operations including serving as Chief of Staff, lead on project planning and execution ensuring deliverability on time and within budget. April managed several board-level committees, strategic initiatives and worked to implement growth and retention strategies for membership, chapters, public and private partners as well as build relationships with advocacy organizations, local, state and federal stakeholders.
Prior to joining WTS, April served as the CEO for the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), a coalition of over 100 organizations and agencies dedicated to youth health and safety education. In this role, April engaged with transportation stakeholders on road safety programs, injury prevention education and workforce development initiatives.
April previously served as Manager & Affairs Analyst in the Office of the Dean at the University of Maryland, School of Nursing, directing government affairs and communications. In this role, April was responsible for managing the State of Maryland, Action Coalition, an initiative of AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.