--- title: About Us description: >- Learn about HopSkipDrive, the leading provider of supplemental student transportation and routing software, all powered by transformative technology. category: Page canonical_url: https://www.hopskipdrive.com/about/ source: hopskipdrive license: © 2026 HopSkipDrive. All rights reserved. slug: about id: 42rgn6KyyIwuQtXlNSmbgc contentType: page --- # About HopSkipDrive We’re a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, equity, and care. Through our marketplace, we connect kids, older adults, or anyone needing extra support to highly vetted caregivers on wheels. Through our software, we solve the biggest transportation challenges facing schools and school districts around the country. ![Chain Link Security Icon](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/1T6x4uiyxGnxpDQQrZYCn9/7bee5bb2635e54fdf3d6eafaacf21cbf/chain-link-security-lock-icon-navy.svg) ### Mission HopSkipDrive exists to create opportunity for all through mobility. As the leader in innovative, supplemental school transportation, we’re taking a different approach to addressing inequities in educational access that are affecting millions of kids each day. ### Vision At HopSkipDrive, we’re driven by the belief that success shouldn’t be determined by access to transportation. Our innovative platform empowers millions to overcome this barrier, connecting them to the opportunities that matter most. With scalable, cutting-edge solutions, we’re paving the way for a future where every student has the chance to succeed. ### History What started as the struggle of three working moms trying to get their busy kids to and from school and activities has grown into a leading technology company offering transportation solutions that help give students easier access to the opportunities they deserve. ## Driven By Our Core Values *As a mission-driven organization, we have always placed great emphasis on living our values in all that we do.* ### Safety Is Everything When it comes to safety, we are never ‘done’ - we continuously set and raise the bar. We relentlessly innovate using technology, data, and human expertise to keep all of our users safe. ### Feel It We strive to have empathy and compassion for our customers, teams and their communities by putting ourselves in others’ shoes to understand their needs, deliver outcomes that make a difference, and meet people where they are. ### Customer First We are obsessed with delivering extraordinary customer experiences. We go above and beyond to build trust and make our customers’ lives easier. ### Make Tomorrow Better We are curious, constantly experimenting, testing assumptions and challenging the status quo. We hold ourselves accountable to continuous improvement, seizing opportunities to solve complex problems, knowing this requires bold and creative thinking. ### Move Fast, Stay Nimble We act quickly, with deep urgency. We don’t cut corners, but we value progress over perfection. ### Win Together We foster healthy debate and encourage diverse perspectives to uncover the best solutions while remembering there’s no room for jerks. We take ownership, act with integrity, and celebrate our collective successes. Best idea wins. ## Our Leadership Team ### [Joanna McFarland](/about/bio/joanna-mcfarland/) ![Joanna McFarland.jpg](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/1Hdk3C40ZRK0AYMZqLISfl/4ce93950adfaf3f14bbc248a338f63da/Joanna_McFarland.jpg?w=1344&fm=webp&q=75) ### Joanna McFarland is the CEO and Co-Founder of HopSkipDrive, the B2B technology company driving the $30 billion school transportation industry into the future and solving one of the most pressing challenges facing kids, families, schools, and communities in America. HopSkipDrive’s mission is to create opportunity for all through mobility, and the company currently partners with school districts across 13 states and supports more than 10,000 schools. Contracting directly with school districts, the company offers a network of highly vetted drivers from the local community through its care-centered transportation marketplace, and sells routing software called RouteWise AI, that solves districts’ fragmented transportation plans at scale. Joanna is on the board of LA-Tech.org, a nonprofit that connects LA’s tech community to talented, underrepresented individuals in the community and drives economic opportunities and job creation for underserved LA residents. She is on the board of Sidecar Health, a company revolutionizing health care and putting power back in the hands of the consumer. She is also an investment partner at XFactor Ventures, where she leads pre-seed and seed-stage investments in female-founded companies. Before co-founding HopSkipDrive in 2014, Joanna spent over 15 years in product management, investment banking and private equity, building and scaling businesses for top technology brands, including WeddingChannel, Green Dot, and YP.com. Joanna has an MBA from Stanford University and a BS from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and her two boys. ### [Corey McMahon](/about/bio/corey-mcmahon/) ![Corey McMahon.jpg](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/28OXU8mxZpX1sHBBtPCJyt/a367184d9f38008092ff817e20b62bdb/Corey_McMahon.jpg?w=640&fm=webp&q=75) ### [Joseph Brumfield](/about/bio/joseph-brumfield/) ![Joseph Brumfield.jpg](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/36E83nNNle6vTNFy6nm6mG/05cf6ece3628e3a7fb734fbd6497c081/Joseph_Brumfield.jpg?w=640&fm=webp&q=75) ### [Jen Brandenburger](/about/bio/jen-brandenburger/) ![Jen Brandenburger.jpg](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/eEL1I0tISHwzdBYTA00aW/f1d802924d60fafc4578a42d18b6c56c/Jen_Brandenburger.jpg?w=640&fm=webp&q=75) ### [David Katcher](/about/bio/david-katcher/) ![David Katcher Photo](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/3554NGCCxWuHRXMrrYaVCl/c9346a0a0ab02012895ce7659de7054d/DavidKatcher.png?w=2143&fm=webp&q=75) ### [Loni Mahanta](/about/bio/loni-mahanta/) ![Loni Mahanta](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/4OkWdppeec0gS7nWwdAUXA/19db20aacc21ba3fb5c31df50d7b8bf4/Loni.png?w=800&fm=webp&q=75) ### [Tyler Baldwin](/about/bio/tyler-baldwin/) ![Tyler Baldwin Photo](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/2MlenKUTkR67tkC4cBUkQz/f3d69defe8afb3e03b75f05deea2c53f/TylerBaldwin.jpg?w=512&fm=webp&q=75) ### [Brian Wright](/about/bio/brian-wright/) ![Brian Wright](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/69RYyekms65Ztak7LYcYB/eb6f6c3f37c244be88648743130a8df0/23-1004_ii_hsd_corporateportraits2579.png?w=1232&fm=webp&q=75) ### [Sandra Petersen](/about/bio/sandra-petersen/) ![Sandra Petersen](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/4v73Yflca2Qxn4tloKHvjl/c07cce76655ae36c83df53266e442cd9/SandraPetersen.png?w=432&fm=webp&q=75) ### [Tom Alderman](/about/bio/tom-alderman/) ![Tom Alderman](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/jqYTqK8E4tV1wxL9InMGt/fdd0e3908231a816af56dc1213589b70/E086SN9TK62-U09HCFQHZM4-c2c8746f51ce-512.png?w=512&fm=webp&q=75) ## Meet Some of Our Team Members *Helping to create opportunity for all through mobility sounds pretty impactful, but how does it feel? Hear directly from a few folks who #FeelIt every day.* ### —Jack *Community Engagement Manager* “I’ve taken on challenges, and ventured into projects I’d never even imagined working on prior to HopSkipDrive. I’ve worked on local, state, and national policy campaigns that have a huge impact on both the future of the company, and on student transportation for vulnerable students across the country. I’m encouraged to tap into my existing potential and equipped with the resources to learn new skills.” ![Outdoor Portrait with Noah Cap](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/731HpQY7GtW5x6hOiEsEhv/c92031dc6f6876724892212586d43c72/Jack_Cregan.jpg?w=640&fm=webp&q=75) ### —Jasmine *Enterprise Sales Development Representative* “I am most proud of being able to make a direct impact on a student’s life with just one phone call. Knowing that a single conversation can change the trajectory of their school experience and ensure they get the safe transportation they need is incredibly rewarding. Every small interaction brings me closer to making a meaningful difference in the lives of students who need it the most.” ![Jasmine Mouton](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/3dP7UG2BW8RN8hFG5NRHTy/0d795ac1fdf85e161db6b40dd191e205/Jasmine_Mouton.png?w=2309&fm=webp&q=75) ### —Tiffany *Digital Marketing Manager* “I started at HopSkipDrive as a Safe Ride Support Specialist and had the opportunity to intern with the marketing team. This led to my continued advancement, ultimately reaching my current position as a Digital Marketing Manager. I know firsthand that HopSkipDrive has supported my professional growth by providing opportunities for advancement and taking a true interest in my career goals.” ![Tiffany Hancock](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/1iUNqLkO0Xkts4o4rMLuVc/ece3787c33492419c74d75447306e732/Tiffany_Hancock.jpg?w=640&fm=webp&q=75) ### —Amir *Sr. Data Engineer* “I’m proud to have the opportunity to build a modern data warehouse here. As the company grows, data volume and complexity increase, necessitating scalable and efficient data infrastructure. This ensures faster processing, improved data quality, and enhanced adaptability. It’s rewarding to support informed decision making that allows our organization to stay competitive in a data-driven landscape.” ![Amir Katoozian](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/76byXICU84QQjjoBaoPaQp/6649128a862dc454d3c8b9cf117dc0b6/Amir_Katoozian.jpg?w=640&fm=webp&q=75) ### —Deissy *Transportation Analyst* “My team develops routing solutions, through RouteWise AI, that transform the transportation approaches of school districts. Through technology and support, we optimize systems to support their priorities. This leads to cost and time savings for districts, resilience against driver shortages, improved student access to education, and reduced environmental impact. Our influence on our company mission is tangible.” ![Deissy Guerrero](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/ePMMJrgL4sJEojqf0lE5J/cf102824843c2978cb28e90136776aba/Deissy_Guerrero_.jpg?w=640&fm=webp&q=75) ## Our Awards & Achievements We’re honored to receive recognition for our technology, impact, service, and culture. ### Inc. 5000 *America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies* ![Inc. 5000](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/3ftT68BsEITxI499UJAzbc/c44e77f05f406285accfce95d764703d/Awards_Inc_5000_Americas_Fastest_Growing_Companies.jpg?w=404&fm=webp&q=75) - [Read more](https://www.inc.com/profile/hopskipdrive) ### Los Angeles Business Journal Disruptor’s Award *100 Fastest Growing Companies* ![Disruptors](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/1OksmHsxcQ7glb1HUrMcEu/48c91ae88b17df2851e31126afb53f7a/Awards_Los_Angeles_Business_Journal_Disruptors.jpg?w=404&fm=webp&q=75) - [Read more](https://labusinessjournal.com/business-journal-events/event-recaps/disruptors-awards-las-100-fastest-growing-companies-2023-recap/) ### Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas *Honorable Mention in the Transportation Category: RouteWise AI™* ![Fast Company](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/260QfRkvXr441pxbCOXmbA/e9174821e38cbc91c3e822969921475b/Awards_Fast_Company_World_Changing_Ideas.jpg?w=404&fm=webp&q=75) - [Read more](https://www.fastcompany.com/90871281/world-changing-ideas-transportation-2023) ### Deloitte Technology Fast 500 *Fastest Growing Technology and Life Sciences Companies* ![Deloitte Fast 500](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/2uBiJ0P7sK3q6xop16atli/fb08c2f9bb09571416c5935b586bc9a8/Awards_Deloitte_Technology_Fast_500_North_America.jpg?w=404&fm=webp&q=75) - [Read more](https://fast500.awardsplatform.com/) ### Built In Best Places to Work *Remote Places to Work and Midsize Places to Work in Los Angeles* ![Best Places to Work](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/3gCgMXKSa1YHjSip0p6LzJ/82f3bc049ab5be50ca3f2cfbecc96ed2/2026BPTW_GeneralBadge_FullColor.png?w=2289&fm=webp&q=75) - [Read More](https://builtin.com/awards/remote/current/best-places-to-work#:~:text=1999-,HopSkipDrive,-Automotive%20%2B%20Edtech) ### Fast Company World’s 10 Most Innovative Companies *Transportation Category 2022* ![Most Innovative Companies 2024](https://images.ctfassets.net/gqa3p93n5wse/5GfOHqd6LWUS9sHosBDRTD/243d2c9402900e504d001001c4061920/Awards_Fast_Company_Most_Innovative_Companies.jpg?w=404&fm=webp&q=75) - [Read more](https://www.fastcompany.com/90724485/most-innovative-companies-transportation-2022) ## Join the HopSkipDrive Team Learn More About Working at HopSkipDrive - [OPEN POSITIONS](/careers/) ## Subscribe to our newsletter - [SUBSCRIBE](#)