An education sector leader joins the leadership of alternative transportation company HopSkipDrive. Effective yesterday, Dave Lissy has been appointed to its board of directors.

Lissy served as CEO of Bright Horizons Family Solutions from 2002 to 2018, leading in early education services and employer-sponsored childcare. He first joined that company in 1997 as chief development officer. Prior to that, Lissy spent 11 years at Aetna U.S. Healthcare as senior vice president and general manager for the New England region.

He serves as chairman of the board for Bright Horizons and Redfin Corporation, and holds board positions with Benchmark Senior Living and BeneLynk. He also serves as chair emeritus of Ithaca College.

“I’m thrilled to join HopSkipDrive’s board and support their vital work in transforming student transportation,” Lissy said. “Their innovative platform helps school districts improve efficiency while facilitating safe, reliable rides for students with diverse needs. I’ve seen firsthand how access to 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.”

“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 growth for HopSkipDrive. The company has recently expanded to new markets including Atlanta, Kansas City, and Virginia Beach, launched its RouteWise AI software, and announced four new safety products and initiatives.

HopSkipDrive's board also includes Rick Heitzmann, FirstMark Capital; Loni Mahanta, aiEDU.org; Ben Birnbaum, Reframe Capital; and Cassie Bowe, investment professional.