COMTO MI Transportation Braintrust Breakfast 2023

View a digital version of our event program here.

I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to you and thank you for attending COMTO Michigan’s 2nd Annual Transportation Braintrust.

This year’s theme, “Funding Our Future”, brings attention to the need to explore funding approaches that not only sustain our current projects, but also advance solutions that will positively shape and impact the future of Michigan’s transportation industry.

Today’s Transportation Braintrust represents an invaluable opportunity for us to come together as transportation experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers to tackle the challenges and opportunities surrounding funding.

We look forward to gaining insight from our Keynote Speaker, Speaker of the House Joe Tate, and our dynamic panel of local industry leaders on the funding landscape and its implications for transportation projects, businesses, and communities in Michigan.

I’d like to thank our sponsors for their financial support and a special thank you to Chairwoman Beverly Watts and our amazing Braintrust Committee for their tireless efforts to ensure this event is a success!

Thank you for joining us and engaging in this important conversation.

We appreciate your support as COMTO continues to be the voice of equity in transportation.

Sincerely,

Bianca Graves President COMTO Michigan

I am honored to serve as the chairperson of this year’s Braintrust Transportation Breakfast.

The event committee members and I are proud to present our annual leadership symposium since the pandemic. Our theme this year will focus on “Funding Our Future”. We applaud the announcement of Michigan’s commitment to a five-year Rebuilding Program bringing 90% of the state’s critical roads, highways, and bridges to “good or fair” condition, along with a desire to provide a safer, greener, more accessible Transportation Infrastructure and Services by 2030.

Funding is essential to any plan; our leadership symposium will explore financial options and how Michigan compares to other states’ strategic plan to fund the future. We are excited to hear from our keynote speaker, Speaker of the House Joe Tate on his perspective for funding, followed by a very informative discussion from our panelists.

I want to thank COMTO Michigan’s President Bianca Graves, the executive board, and the Braintrust committee for their leadership and commitment to supporting equity, inclusion, and opportunities in the Transportation industry.

Thank you,

Beverly Watts Committee Chair, Transportation Braintrust Breakfast COMTO Michigan

October 19, 2023 Detroit Athletic Club Doors Open | Breakfast Served Welcome Bianca Graves President, COMTO Michigan Chapter CEO, Leading Edge Solutions, LLC

Regine Beauboeuf, P.E. HNTB, Senior Vice President Director of Infrastructure and Mobility Equity Introductions

Beverly Watts COMTO Michigan Chapter Committee Chair & Executive Board Member CEO, BME Consulting, LLC. Moderator Brandon Hudson FOX 2 News, Anchor & Reporter Greetings Mary Sheffield City of Detroit, City Council President

Todd A. Bettison City of Detroit, Deputy Mayor Keynote Speaker

Joe Tate Speaker of the House, Michigan Representative, 10th District Panel Discussion | Q&A April Rai President & CEO COMTO National

Brad Wieferich, P.E. Director Michigan Department of Transportation

Amy O’Leary Executive Director Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)

Sean Werdlow Senior Managing Director Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC.

Closing Remarks Bianca Graves President, COMTO Michigan Chapter CEO, Leading Edge Solutions, LLC Sponsor Recognitions Brandon Hudson FOX 2 News, Anchor & Reporter

Program Concludes

Joe Tate | Michigan House Representative, 10 District, Speaker of the House th

Joe Tate is Michigan’s first Black Speaker of the House, serving his third term in office.

The Speaker decided to run for office as a part of his deep and lifelong commitment to public service. The value of service was taught to him by his parents — a teacher in the Detroit public school system and a Detroit firefighter. As a teenager, Tate earned a scholarship to play football at Michigan State University before joining the National Football League. After an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he earned both an MBA and a master’s in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Michigan.

Brandon Hudson | News Anchor and Reporter, FOX 2 News

A graduate of Communications and Media Studies from Florida State University. Hudson has worked at WPXI-TV in Philadelphia, WDHN and WOOF FM in Alabama, and FOX 44 and ABC 22 in Vermont.

A proud father and husband, Hudson now lives in Michigan. In the hopes of connecting to the community, and amplifying the voices of those who don’t feel listened to, he works as a TV Reporter and Anchor at FOX 2 News Detroit.

April Rai | President & CEO, COMTO National As President & CEO, April Rai works to build upon COMTO’s 50-year history of ensuring equitable opportunities and maximum participation for minority individuals, veterans, people with disabilities and minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBEs).

With over 15 years of experience managing private, public sector and non-profit organizations, Rai’s career focus has centered on strategic partnership development, coalition building, people and project management.

Brad Wieferich, P.E. | Director, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Brad C. Wieferich, P.E., has served the Michigan Department of Transportation for 27 years in several capacities. Wieferich is a leader at MDOT, as well as nationally, by serving on AASHTO’s Council on Highways and Streets. He also represents the department on the Council on Future Mobility and Electrification and the State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC).

A graduate of Michigan State University (1992), Wieferich holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

Amy O’Leary | Executive Director, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) Amy O’Leary is the Executive Director of SEMCOG, a membership and regional planning organization with more than 180 local government and education members.

O’Leary holds a Masters in Planning from Eastern Michigan University and attended Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is a Certified Association Executive and holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.

Sean Werdlow | Senior Managing Director, Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC Sean Werdlow is a proven finance professional and business leader who has led multiple entities through challenging financial and economic circumstances and growth phases achieving strong results and creating significant value for shareholders and constituents. Werdlow is often sought for his business and civic leadership.

Werdlow holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Wayne State University.

We are grateful for COMTO’s commitment to excellence and We are grateful for COMTO’s creating opportunities for historically commitment to excellence andfor all underutilized businesses and professionals in transportation. creating opportunities for historically

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ABOUT COMTO Founded in 1971, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) was created to provide a forum for minority professionals in the transportation industry.

Our mission is to ensure opportunities and maximum participation in the industry for minority individuals, businesses and communities of color, through advocacy, training, and professional development.

OUR MISSION Our mission is to ensure opportunities and maximize participation in the transportation industry for minority individuals, businesses, and communities of color, through advocacy, information sharing, training, education, and professional development in the State of Michigan.

OUR VISION COMTO Michigan will serve as an advocate for an effective and efficient multi-modal transportation network for all in Michigan.

THE VALUE OF MEMBERSHIP COMTO Michigan strives to enhance the quality of life for our members and local communities by providing: A network of transportation business opportunities Strong national and local political advocacy Access to career enhancmeent opportunities Training and educational programs that qualify for continuing education units (CEUS, PDHS, ETC.) and industry certifications Mentoring from executive level transportation officials Scholarship opportunities for high school, college, and graduate students interested in transportation careers.

CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP COMTO Michigan membership includes individuals; groups; transportation agencies; private-sector corporations including transportation consultants and construction and construction contractors; non-profit organizations; disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE) and small businesses.

FOR MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION: Plese contact the COMTO Michigan membership committee chair, or visit www.comtonational.org and click on “Membership”

To view our COMTO Michigan website, please use the QR code below.