Welcome to COMTO Arizona
COMTO was created to provide a forum for senior minority professionals in the transportation industry.
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United States
The voice of Equity.
COMTO’s mission is to provide full access to employment, career and contract opportunities for minorities within the transportation industry. Over the past thirty years, our mandate has evolved to include not only public transportation industry executives, but also professionals at every level of industry encompassing a variety of fields and disciplines. Now, as was then, members are encouraged to share information, opportunities and personal expertise. With 39 chapters throughout the United States, our mission is as relevant today as we strive to provide full access to employment, career and contract opportunities for minorities within the transportation industry.
Leadership
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Antonio Santana
President
Mr. Santana brings over 12 years of expertise in public transportation, specializing in light rail projects in Maricopa County. As an active member of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) since 2019, he has consistently championed for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
His vision for COMTO Arizona prioritizes amplifying voices from marginalized communities, fostering inclusivity, and driving industry-wide change. -
Johnson Sharletha
First Vice President
Ms. Johnson is a registered professional engineer in the States of Illinois and Arizona. Ms. Johnson has a broad range of experiences from transportation design, planning and construction to program management and oversight of capital improvement projects. Ms. Johnson served as a task order manager with the Federal Transit Administration and as the Phase I project manager for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority I-94 expansion project. In 2023, she was appointed at the first African American woman Town Engineer for the Town of Paradise Valley, Arizona. Ms. Johnson has spent the last nine years of her 28-year career in the Valley of Sun. As a Town Engineer, she currently oversees and manages the Engineering Division that administers various engineering tasks to maintain a safe and secure right of way.
Ms. Johnson is proponent of professional development and community outreach, lending her skills and expertise as a volunteer for various professional associations and technical groups throughout her professional career. She served as Director of the National Society of Black Engineer’s Transportation Special Interest Group. She was an active member of COMTO Chicago for five years and served on a leadership team. In 2015, she joined COMTO Arizona. She currently represents the Town of Paradise Valley on the Maricopa Association of Governments – Transportation Review Committee. She believes that engineering and transportation is an ever growing and expanding field.
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Pete Hemingway
Second Vice President
Leveraging over 30 years of experience in transportation consulting, Mr. Hemingway has served in senior leadership positions at various firms, including Ritoch-Powell and Associates/Ardurra, Wood Patel, AZTEC Engineering, and Alpha Engineering Group. Currently, Mr. Hemingway serves as the National Multimodal Client Service Manager for Ardurra. His steadfast commitment to infrastructure development, sustainability, and renewable energy solutions has guided his work throughout his career.
Mr. Hemingway's dedication to advancing the transportation industry extends to his leadership role within the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO). As a founding member of the Arizona chapter and an active board member for over five years, he is deeply committed to COMTO's mission. As second vice president, Mr. Hemingway intends to expand this mission by increasing membership, establishing mentorship programs for young professionals, and securing scholarships to foster diverse and inclusive leadership within the industry.
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Ken Pratt
Secretary
Mr. Pratt serves as the President/CEO of Sun Engineering, a Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) design engineering firm. Sun Engineering serves transportation (airports, light rail, hi-way, streets, etc.), residential, commercial and government sector.
Mr. Pratt has been actively involved with COMTO-AZ for the last three (3) years serving as the COMTO-AZ Membership Chair. -
Jeffery Pugh
Treasurer
Mr. Pugh currently serves as Project Manager for the City of Phoenix Aviation Department. Prior to joining the City of Phoenix, Mr. Pugh's success in transportation included serving as Vice-President of TEI Construction & Engineering Inc.; served as the Manager of Administration and Manager of Contracts for Valley Metro Rail and Served as an Officer in the United States Air Force.
Mr. Pugh has previously served as president of the COMTO Arizona chapter. Mr. Pugh is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.