Coffee Chat with COMTO President and Chief Executive Officer April Rai
By Sophie Guiny, WTS-DC
March 2022
On February 24, 2022, attendees from across the transportation industry gathered virtually over Zoom for WTS-DC’s Coffee Chat with Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) President and Chief Executive Officer April Rai. April’s name was familiar to many attendees because, prior to her appointment to COMTO, she served as Deputy Executive Director for WTS International.
April shared how her career took her to her current CEO position, which was not a role she had envisioned for herself growing up in Southern California. She started her career in government affairs and healthcare, which ultimately led her to become CEO of National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) where she met a Board member named Sara Stickler. A good illustration of the importance of networking and serendipity, when Sara was asked to become CEO of WTS International, she asked April to join her. Together, they worked through a major restructuring and expansion of the organization.
April shared that she feels privileged to be a steward of COMTO’s 50-year legacy and its future. Among the initiatives she is spearheading is a complete refresh of the data on where COMTO members are in their careers. This will lead to a State of COMTO report the following year to assess whether members are progressing in their career. April noted the importance of supporting organizations that empower minorities in transportation, such as COMTO and WTS, to get everyone a seat at the table and make diversity and inclusion truly meaningful in the industry.
During a lively Q&A session, April and the audience also discussed health and wellness and work-life balance, a key theme for Black History Month in 2022, qualities necessary to be a leader, and the importance of giving and receiving mentorship and sponsorship throughout one’s career.
WTS-DC is grateful to April Rai for sharing her time and insight with WTS-DC members and friends.