HopSkipDrive Welcomes Dave Lissy to Board of Directors

Today we are excited to announce that Dave Lissy has joined our Board of Directors. His appointment marks a significant milestone in our work to solve the most pressing transportation challenges facing schools today. 

Lissy has an exceptional track record in the education and care sectors, having served as CEO of Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE: BFAM) from 2002 to 2018. During his tenure, the company established itself as the leader in early education services and employer-sponsored childcare. He first joined Bright Horizons in 1997 as Chief Development Officer and now serves as Chairman of the Board. 

“I’m thrilled to join HopSkipDrive’s board and support their vital work in transforming student transportation,” said Lissy. “Their innovative platform and technology helps school districts improve efficiency while facilitating safe, reliable rides for students with diverse needs. I’ve seen firsthand how access to safe, dependable transportation can be life-changing for families and open educational opportunities for students, and I look forward to helping the company scale this essential service to more communities across the country.” 

Before joining Bright Horizons in 1997 as Chief Development Officer, Lissy spent 11 years at Aetna U.S. Healthcare as Senior Vice President and General Manager for the New England region. His current board portfolio includes chairmanship of Redfin Corporation (NASDAQ: RDFN), and board positions with Benchmark Senior Living and BeneLynk. He also serves as Chair Emeritus of Ithaca College.

“Dave is a remarkable leader with proven expertise in building and scaling successful, mission-driven organizations that support and uplift children’s learning opportunities. His insights will be crucial as we expand our footprint, scale our operations, and continue our work to ensure transportation never stands as a barrier between a student and an educational opportunity,” said Joanna McFarland, CEO and Co-Founder of HopSkipDrive. 

His appointment comes at a time of exciting growth for HopSkipDrive. Over the past few weeks, we’ve announced our expansion to new markets including Atlanta, GA, Kansas City, KS, and Virginia Beach, VA; launched a first-of-its-kind AI-driven transportation planning platform as part of our RouteWise AI™ software; and shared four new products and initiatives to support our efforts to lead the industry in safety. 

Lissy joins our accomplished Board of Directors that includes Rick Heitzmann, Co-Founder and Partner at FirstMark Capital, who has a proven track record of identifying and scaling innovative technologies; Loni Mahanta, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at aiEDU.org, who brings significant expertise in policy strategy; Ben Birnbaum, experienced transportation industry advisor and Co-Founder of Reframe Capital; and Cassie Bowe, accomplished investment professional specializing in sustainable mobility solutions. Together, they help guide our strategic direction as we continue our mission to create opportunity for all through mobility.