September 4, 2024
It’s all about the next generation: 2024 COMTO-Boston Golf Tournament
Date: August 19, 2024
Location: William J. Devine Golf Course, Boston, MA
COMTO Boston recently held its 3rd-annual golf tournament, where COMTO members and honored guests enjoyed a wonderful day of networking with other AEC-industry professionals, while raising funds for much-needed scholarships for underrepresented minorities who are pursuing careers in the transportation industry. The tournament was well-attended by top officials at MBTA and MassDOT as well as many consulting firms in the Boston area, including, MBTA’s Chief of Integrated Transit and recent recipient of COMTO-Boston’s recent 2024 Women Making Transportation History Award, Desiree Patrice.
Annual COMTO Boston sponsors are HDR and Keolis. For this COMTO-Boston golf tournament, the following firms sponsored teams and contributed to the scholarship fundraising: HDR, Foot Prince, Mary Fernandes, LydRiv Communications, Mott MacDonald, McClure, and Fuss & O’Neill.
This year’s 2024 COMTO Boston golf tournament was a must-attend event for anyone in the AEC industry in Boston who is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the transportation sector. By continuing to create educational and networking opportunities for industry professionals, as well as by fundraising to award essential scholarships to students pursuing careers in the transportation industry, the COMTO-Boston chapter demonstrates its dedication to helping students from underrepresented backgrounds realize their potential and follow their dreams. Encouraging student membership in COMTO further encourages ongoing access to invaluable resources and support systems that can guide their journeys in STEAM fields. The COMTO-Boston golf tournament exemplified the mission of this chapter in so many ways. Looking forward to the next one in 2025!
Day-of volunteers included Catarina Figueiredo Mendes (Marketing and Communication Chair, VHB); Christian Blaise (Treasurer, HDR), Elizabeth Bennett (Program Committee Chair, VHB); Caroline Lucas (Secretary, VHB); Estey Masten (member, HDR), Tamara M. Powell (member, HNTB), Shawndell Hood (member, MassDOT), and Rica Ueda (Membership Chair, VHB).
The planning committee for this tournament consisted of Abou Konate (President, COMTO Boston, VHB); Darnell Williams (1st VP, MBTA); Caroline Lucas (Secretary, VHB); Christian Blaise (Treasurer, HDR), Charity Coleman (Scholarship Chair, US DOT), Lidy Chan (Past president, MassDOT), Rica Ueda (Membership Chair, VHB); Catarina Figueiredo Mendes (Marketing and Communication Chair, VHB); Elizabeth Bennett (Program Committee Chair, VHB) Sara Yasin (member, VHB) and Julie Goldberg (member, VHB).
COMTO Boston and Golf
The Boston Chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the transportation industry. COMTO Boston plays a crucial role in ensuring that the voices and contributions of minorities are both heard and celebrated. Our chapter brings together professionals from a wide array of disciplines, including architects, policy makers, engineers, planners, and advocates, all united by a common goal: to create a transportation system that is not only efficient and innovative but also equitable and accessible for all. Through dynamic programming, strategic partnerships, and community engagement, COMTO Boston empowers its members with the tools and networks needed to affect meaningful change. The 2024 golf tournament is a key event that helps COMTO Boston further this mission in our city.