Seeing Clearly for Safer School Bus Transportation: The Power of Vision Technology
BusPatrol Hires 2 New Executives
The appointments bring a new chief technology officer and chief people officer to the stop-arm safety provider.

The Virginia-based company welcomes two new C-suite execs to drive forward its safety technology and market position.
Photo: BusPatrol/SBF Canva
BusPatrol welcomes two new individuals to its executive team, according to a Nov. 26 company announcement.
The new appointments brings Manoj Shende in as chief technology officer and Kate Manahan as chief people officer.
Manoj Shende Named Chief Technology Officer
As new CTO, Shende will continue developing and implementing BusPatrol’s stop-arm safety solution. He is charged with spearheading initiatives that will enhance the platform experience for BusPatrol customers and extend BusPatrol’s substantial technology capabilities into new areas of product innovation.
Shende brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in engineering, product development, and DevOps. He joins BusPatrol after leading technology development at Aptiv, ServiceNow, and Microsoft, among others. At each, he scaled high-availability platforms to millions of users and developed transformative technologies, including AI, cloud computing, and connected vehicles.
“I’ve dedicated my career to driving innovation that has a lasting impact on society,” said Shende. “Joining BusPatrol at this exciting time is a unique opportunity to contribute to an essential mission – making the world a safer place for children. I’m thrilled to be part of the team and eager to build on BusPatrol’s success in creating smarter, safer transportation solutions.”
Kate Manahan Joins BusPatrol as Chief People Officer
As chief people officer, Manahan will oversee all aspects of BusPatrol’s human resources, talent acquisition and management, and diversity and inclusion efforts. Manahan brings a wealth of experience and a visionary approach to developing high-performing teams and fostering learning-based cultures.
Prior to joining BusPatrol, Manahan served in the same role at Built Technologies, where she was responsible for developing the entire people strategy, function, and processes. Before that, Manahan spent 15 years at Bridgewater Associates in various leadership roles.
“I am excited to join BusPatrol and build upon and evolve the company’s strong foundation of talent, innovation, and performance,” said Manahan. “It’s not often you get to be part of a company where technology and student safety come together in such a meaningful way. I’m proud to be leading a team of people who are all so dedicated to the same mission – making roads safer for students – and I can’t wait to help drive that forward.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Manoj and Kate to our leadership team,” said Karoon Monfared, CEO of BusPatrol. “Manoj’s expertise in scaling market leading customer and safety focused platforms makes him the perfect addition to lead our next chapter of innovation. Similarly, Kate’s strategic thinking, passion, and creativity will help strengthen our people and continuous improvement culture. Our people are our greatest asset in delivering our safety mission, and Kate will be a terrific steward of the exciting and energizing environment we are creating for every BusPatroller. Together, they’ll play a key role in driving our mission forward and expanding our impact in public safety.”
Founded in 2017, BusPatrol partners with school districts and other agencies to modernize fleets with safety technology, including capturing stop-arm violations, internal cameras, and telematics data.
More Management

Changing Lanes: AMF Bruns, Pro-Vision, CALSTART, HopSkipDrive, & Kooner
Check out who's been hired, promoted, and appointed to leadership positions at various school transportation industry suppliers and nonprofits.
Read More →
NCST Announces 18th Congress Event Dates, New Committees
The National Congress on School Transportation moves to St. Louis in May 2029, convening delegates and industry representatives to discuss new best practice recommendations. Now, the new committee chairs have been named.
Read More →
Key Moments from the 2026 NSTA Annual Meeting in the Mile High City
From federal policy updates and OEM presentations to speed networking and industry awards, see photos and highlights from the contractor association’s summer conference in Denver.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Launches Spanish-Language App Update, Plans Additional Language Support
The update aims to improve communication with multilingual families by offering ride tracking, notifications, and support in Spanish, with more languages planned for the 2026-2027 school year.
Read More →
Where the Yellow Bus Takes Us: School Bus Fleet's 2026 Photo of the Year Winners
See the winning photos from School Bus Fleet's 2026 Photo of the Year contest, featuring stunning school bus images from across the U.S., from scenic landscapes to everyday moments.
Read More →
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Student Transportation
Learn the five key elements that bus drivers and transportation directors can use to stay calm in any situation.
Read More →
2026 Back-To-School Readiness Report
Staffing gaps, flat budgets, and the distance between “mostly prepared” and ready for the 2026-2027 school year.
Read More →
National School Transportation Association Presents 2026 Award Winners
Twenty-one individuals and contractor companies were recognized for excellence in student transportation at NSTA's annual meeting and convention in Denver.
Read More →
School Transportation Data Is Only as Powerful as the Story It Tells
Leaders say turning operational metrics into student-centered narratives can help districts justify investments and improve service.
Read More →
Photos: NYAPT Celebrates 50 Years at 2026 Conference & Trade Show
See highlights from NYAPT's 50th anniversary conference in Saratoga Springs, featuring educational sessions, awards, a trade show, networking, and more.
Read More →

