The Philadelphia chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials has honored Philadelphia International (PHL) with its first Ambassador Award.
The award recognizes the airport’s support of the group’s mission and goals. It was presented to airport CEO Mark Gale during the organization’s 13th annual Scholarship Luncheon on June 1.
“Under your leadership, PHL has gone beyond its customary bounds, putting forth outstanding efforts to represent, support and advocate the principles of COMTO,” Co-Chair Herman W. Lloyd told Gale during his presentation. Lloyd also noted PHL’s “longstanding dedication and employee engagement to the Philadelphia chapter of COMTO.
COMTO was founded in 1971 on the Howard University campus in Washington, D.C., and has 39 chapters throughout the country. Its mission is to “ensure a level playing field and maximum participation in the transportation industry for minority individuals, businesses and communities of color through advocacy, information sharing, training, education and professional development.”
The airport has strong ties to the organization, including supporting its scholarship program, which this year distributed $40,000 among 21 high school seniors and college students from the area; participating in monthly meetings, some of which have taken place at the airport; co-sponsoring the 40th National Meeting and Training Conference in Philadelphia; supporting employee involvement; and collaborating with COMTO as part of the airport’s annual Career Day.
“COMTO is a great organization, and we are proud to share in its mission and support its goals,” Gale said in accepting the award. “I want to thank COMTO for recognizing the airport with the Ambassador Award, and I look forward to continuing our partnership. I especially want to congratulate all of the scholarship recipients and I wish them the very best in their future endeavors.”
