HopSkipDrive welcomes a new member to its executive leadership team as Sandra Dainora Petersen steps in as senior vice president of product.

A seasoned leader with extensive experience, Petersen will oversee HopSkipDrive’s Product and User Experience teams, and spearhead the company’s product strategy and development. She joins the team under Chief Product & Technology Officer Corey McMahon, alongside Jacob Green, VP of engineering, and the recent addition of Lacey Plache as VP of data science & analytics. 

Petersen most recently served as chief product officer at Sittercity, where she oversaw the development of B2B solutions that transformed how organizations leverage care services and led the company’s trust and safety teams.

“Sandra’s exceptional ability to harness technology in solving complex operational challenges, combined with her proven track record of building delightful user experiences, makes her the perfect leader to drive our product innovation forward,” said Joanna McFarland, co-founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive. “Her experience scaling marketplaces and her deep understanding of the care economy aligns perfectly with our mission of creating opportunity for all through mobility.”

Previously at Grubhub, Petersen played a pivotal role in expanding the delivery vertical to 200+ regions. She began her career serving in roles at Harpo Productions, The Oprah Winfrey Network, Chicago Tribune Interactive, Discover Financial Services, and A&E Television Networks.

“The opportunity to join HopSkipDrive at this transformative moment is incredibly exciting,” Petersen said. “As both a product leader and a parent of a fourth-grader myself, I deeply understand the critical role that reliable, safe transportation plays in expanding educational opportunities. I’m energized to work alongside the talented HopSkipDrive team as we continue to develop innovative solutions that help schools, students, and families thrive.”

The hire comes as HopSkipDrive continues its momentum, with ride volume soaring 300% in the last academic year and its RouteWise AI solution optimizing operations.