Member Spotlight – Marvin Thomas: A Legacy of Leadership and Advocacy in Transportation

Marvin Thomas, a founding member of the Washington State Chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), is entering partial retirement after a distinguished career in transportation leadership. Currently serving as Second Vice President of the COMTO Washington Chapter, Marvin has served COMTO for multiple decades and across regions, including prior leadership roles in the Boston and Denver chapters.

Throughout his career, Marvin has been a steadfast advocate for mentorship and worked to support the advancement of transportation professionals who reflect the communities served. In 2003, he co-founded Triunity, Inc., a program management and engineering firm, alongside his brother Jonnie Thomas. As CEO, Marvin guided Triunity’s strategic growth, including overseeing business development, financial planning, and project delivery across complex transit initiatives. Under his leadership, Triunity secured its largest contract and successfully delivered projects for major transit agencies such as Los Angeles Metro, Denver RTD, MBTA, and Sound Transit. In 2023, Triunity joined Lochner, where Marvin served as Pacific Northwest Area Lead until his retirement.

Marvin holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in systems management from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). His career began in the U.S. Air Force, where he received foundational training in project management that shaped his trajectory in engineering and infrastructure leadership.

Let's dive into the conversation.

Q: I know how enthusiastic you are about the special community that is COMTO. Tell us one story that exemplifies the power of this community.

A: COMTO truly is a special community. Founded in 1971, its vision was to create a national network of transportation professionals. Rather than a single story, I think an entire era best illustrates COMTO’s impact. Between 2001 and 2014, COMTO experienced its greatest growth—launching the National Scholarship and Emerging Leaders Program, Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation, and the COMTO Legacy Funds. During this same period, Triunity had the honor of helping establish chapters in Boston, Denver, and Seattle. That alignment of growth and purpose speaks volumes about the power of this community.

Q: Can you describe a recent project or initiative you're particularly proud of?

A: We’ve been fortunate to work with most of the major light rail systems in the U.S., and we’re proud of all those projects. But what stands out most are the agencies whose initiatives helped us grow. If you’re a transportation company, Sound Transit is the place to be. Much of Triunity’s success is thanks to Sound Transit’s small and disadvantaged business program, which has been instrumental in supporting firms like ours.

Q: How has your career benefited from being a COMTO member?

A: I’ve been a COMTO member for over 20 years, but my background wasn’t originally in transportation. I remember attending my first COMTO National Meeting and Training Conference and thinking it would take at least three events before I stopped feeling like an outsider. That proved true—and once I was in, I was all in. COMTO has given me invaluable exposure to agency professionals across the country and helped me build lasting relationships.

Q: As a graduate of the U.S. AFIT, how has that experience shaped your approach to your work?

A: The U.S. Air Force is where I learned to be a program manager, and that training still guides how I approach complex challenges today. The Air Force emphasized systems thinking, analytical discipline, and mission-focused leadership. At AFIT, we weren’t just trained in technical engineering—we learned how to integrate technology, people, and processes into coherent, results-driven systems. That mindset has shaped every role I’ve held since.

Q: What advice do you have for young professionals?

A: Be curious, be collaborative, and be committed. First, be curious because transportation is one of the most complex, multidisciplinary engineering environments you’ll ever work in—it touches civil, systems, electrical, and social dimensions all at once. Stay curious and be a lifelong learner. Second, be collaborative because success isn’t about individual achievement—it’s about collective outcomes. You’ll work alongside planners, contractors, project control specialists, DBE firms, and community stakeholders. Learn to listen and communicate clearly. Finally, be committed because public transportation is about connecting people and communities. That mission deserves your full dedication.

Q: What's a fun fact about yourself that most people don't know?

A: I’m the third youngest of seven siblings. Our parents were sharecroppers from Mississippi who migrated to Kansas, following a great uncle who worked for the railroads. 

Q: What are you most looking forward to in retirement?

A: I’m looking forward to enjoying life at a different pace and having the flexibility to invest more time in the people and passions that matter most to me. I’m excited about unstructured time—to travel, reconnect with family and friends, read more deeply, and enjoy quiet mornings without urgency. 

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 By: Jessica Matthews, HDR