Meet the 2026 COMTO Chicago Candidates
Shaping the Future of Transportation
The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Chicago Chapter is proud to present our slate of candidates for the 2026 Executive Board. As the leading national advocate for employment diversity, inclusion, and contracting opportunities, COMTO remains steadfast in its mission: to ensure transportation serves all.
Election Process & Guidelines
Our 2026 leadership slate was established through a formal nomination process. Positions with fewer than three initial candidates did not receive additional nominations, resulting in the focused list of qualified leaders presented below.
Before casting your ballot, please carefully review the profiles submitted by the candidates. Your participation ensures that our leadership remains representative of our members' values and professional goals.
Your Vote, Our Vision
By participating in this election, you are helping select the leaders who will:
Advocate for minority participation and advancement at every level of the industry.
Collaborate with stakeholders to create equitable contracting and partnership models.
Educate the next generation of transportation professionals through scholarship and internship programs.
Innovate by preparing our workforce for the technological shifts in future mobility.
Candidates For President
Roosevelt Moneyham III
Roosevelt Moneyham III is a transformative leader in the transportation industry, currently serving as a Director of Project Delivery at R. M. Chin & Associates. Since entering the field five years ago, Roosevelt has rapidly ascended to manage some of Chicago’s most vital infrastructure milestones, including the outreach for CTA's Red Line Extension, the 75th ST. CIP as a part of the CREATE Program, and the .
A dedicated member of COMTO since his first year in the industry, Roosevelt has served tirelessly as the Fundraising Member at Large and Chair for the COMTO Chicago Scholarship Fundraiser which raised over $50K this year. His impact goes beyond traditional solicitation; he has successfully motivated his own firm to contribute at both local and national levels, demonstrating a unique ability to align corporate goals with COMTO’s mission. Recently, he furthered his expertise by earning the AIAI P3 Certification, reinforcing his commitment to innovative project delivery and public-private partnerships.
Candidate for President Candidates for Vice President
Stephen Little
Stephen Little is a Director at CohnReznick with more than 25 years of engineering, consulting, and project management experience, including over a decade overseeing large-scale capital programs. His background spans eight years with PwC, eight years with general contractor Kenny Construction (now Granite Construction), and three years with U.S. Steel. Stephen draws on this deep expertise to lead CohnReznick’s five year, $8.5 billion O’Hare 21 Integrity Monitoring engagement, where he oversees efforts to monitor field construction activities, evaluate process controls, validate contract compliance, and review payment applications for one of the nation’s largest aviation infrastructure programs. A lifelong Chicagoan, Stephen is an avid supporter of his hometown sports teams. Outside of work, he enjoys staying active while training for rugby, meeting new people, and spending time at festivals with his wife, Martha, and their two children, Nathan and Josie.
Education
University of Illinois – B.S., Materials Science & Engineering
University of Chicago Booth School of Business – Master of Business and Administration.
Candidate for Vice President 
Elista Parks
Candidate for Vice President Elista Parks is a Transit and Rail Planner and Designer at Stantec, with a strong record of contributing to complex transit and rail projects as well as comprehensive planning studies.
Her work reflects a commitment to delivering efficient, equitable, and forward‑thinking transportation solutions. Elista currently serves as the Membership Chair for COMTO Chicago, where she leads efforts to strengthen member engagement, expand professional connections, and foster an inclusive environment for transportation practitioners across the region.
Elista is running for Vice President because she is dedicated to advancing COMTO’s mission by promoting diversity, supporting collaboration, and championing the development of emerging leaders within the transportation industry. She looks forward to continuing her service and contributing to the chapter’s sustained growth, impact, and strategic success.
Candidates for Secretary
Americo Gonzalez-Aquino
Americo is a Transportation Architecture Principal at HDR, with more than four decades of national and international experience in transit design. He is based in Chicago, having previously worked out of the New York City and Toronto HDR studios.
Americo has extensive experience designing complex transportation projects for major transit agencies throughout the US, Canada, the Caribbean and China.
Americo is active in industry associations including the AIA where he is a member of the AIA NY Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; the Transportation Research Board (TRB) where he is a member of the Committee on Transit Facilities and Infrastructure; and COMTO, where he is currently Secretary of the COMTO Chicago Executive Board. Americo has presented on transit topics at APTA, MPact, and New Jersey Transit conferences, as well as lecturing at the University of Toronto and the University of Puerto Rico.
Candidate for Secretary
Orlando Toatley
Orlando K. Toatley serves as Marketing and Communications Manager at Rockford Mass Transit District and has experience in media relations, strategic marketing, and public engagement. He currently serves as Marketing and Communications Manager for the Rockford Mass Transit District, where he oversees advertising initiatives, social media, marketing strategy, budget management, and media outreach, including press releases and interviews with local media and news outlets. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronic journalism from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and remains active in community leadership through board service & volunteer work.As COMTO secretary, Orlando’s goal is to serve in a role that uplifts and supports the chapters’ efforts and initiatives. Orlando’s motivation for seeking the position of secretary is derived from both connecting with other minority professionals within the transportation industry and providing tangible support to the organization in the best way possible. As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Orlando understands that being a member of an organization is beneficial, but providing service within the membership is what ultimately makes a successful chapter.
Candidate for Secretary
Laura Van Wert
Candidate for SecretaryLaura Van Wert has spent the last three years of her 18-year career as a Communications and Public Involvement Manager at WSP. She leads public-facing projects large and small for transportation and energy clients in Chicago, Illinois, and around the Midwest. She’s the “gal behind the curtain” ensuring that your public meetings run smoothly and copy-editing next month’s social media content.
She thrives in the world of updated communications plans, stakeholder interviews, online surveys, and door-to-door flyering.
More importantly, Laura is invested in shaping a future for Chicago that is as equitable and inclusive as it is diverse. To this end, and the reason why she’s running to be your COMTO executive board secretary, she would like to be an instrument to amplify your voice.
Previously, Laura spent a decade working in transportation communications in Baltimore. She lives in northwest Chicago with her husband, Eric, and dog, Popsicle.
Candidates for Treasurer
Pamela Mills
Pamela A. Mills is a Strategic Leader and Assistant Vice-President of Program & Project Management at WSP. With over a decade of experience as Bureau Chief for Cook County’s Department of Transportation & Highways, she is an expert in fiscal accountability, operational efficiency, and financial oversight.
Throughout her career, Pamela has managed multi-million dollar operating budgets and streamlined complex financial workflows to enhance organizational capacity. A committed advocate for transparency and professional development, she actively supports COMTO’s mission to advance opportunities within the transportation industry.
Pamela holds an undergraduate degree in Behavioral Science from National Louis University and Master’s degrees in both Business Administration and Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management. She is a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., COMTO, and several advisory boards.
Candidate for Treasurer
Shewana McDavis
Shewana McDavis is the Project Manager at SCR Transportation, where she oversees operations providing safe and reliable paratransit services for the disability community. A Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certified professional, Shewana excels in process improvement, implementing streamlined procedures, and identifying efficiencies that drive organizational success.
Shewana’s dedication to the COMTO mission was solidified during her recent experience at the National Conference in New York. The event offered her a firsthand look at the power of industry collaboration and the meaningful impact the transportation community can have when working toward a common goal.
As a candidate for Treasurer, Shewana plans to combine her technical skills in resource management with her passion for people. She is committed to ensuring financial transparency and responsible management while fostering an environment where members feel empowered to collaborate and share ideas.
Candidate for TreasurerHow to Vote.
Once you have reviewed our candidate’s bios, please visit our ballot.