The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) is hosting its 41st National Meeting and Training Conference at the Embassy Suites in downtown Denver from July 21-25. 


COMTO’s mission is to increase career opportunities for minorities in the transportation industry through advocacy, information sharing, training, education and professional development. The conference supports this mission by bringing together the industry’s top executives and senior staff to network and discuss issues of leadership and equality within the transportation industry. 


COMTO chose to hold the conference in the Mile High City for two reasons—one, Colorado is a regional, national and international transportation hub, with nearly $9 billion in Colorado transportation projects being managed by people of color; two, the Colorado chapter is one of the most active chapters in the organization and was named the 2011 COMTO Chapter of the Year.


“We understand the importance of large-scale transportation projects and their impact on the regional economy,” said Walter Bembry, president of COMTO Colorado. “This same story is playing out at the national level, which is why conferences like these are so important—it allows people from across the country to share successes and lessons learned.”


Attendance is estimated to be approximately 400 people, and according to a longitudinal study provided by VISIT DENVER, the five-day conference is projected to generate more than $250,000 for the Denver economy.

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock issued a proclamation to recognize the conference, declaring July 22-28 Conference of Minority Transportation Officials Week.


The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job growth in the transportation industry to increase by 22%, or 900,000 jobs, from 2004 to 2014. Additionally, nearly every industry relies on the $74 billion industry to transport materials and workers. 
The National Meeting and Training Conference is jointly hosted by the COMTO Colorado chapter, the Regional Transportation District and Denver Transit Partners. It will be held at the Embassy Suites Convention Center and includes several transportation-related tours.

A tentative schedule of events is available at comto.org, or contact COMTO headquarters at 703-234-4072.