School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Zum Appoints New CFO

As the student transportation company expands nationwide, it welcomes Daniel Berenbaum to provide financial leadership and JoAnn Covington as general counsel.

Zum Appoints New CFO

Berenbaum has held financial leadership roles for the past three decades and worked on Wall Street.

Photo: Zum/School Bus Fleet

2 min to read


Zūm announced the appointment of Daniel Berenbaum today as chief financial officer. 

About the New CFO

In this role, Berenbaum will partner with the CEO, COO, and executive team to provide critical financial leadership and craft and execute Zūm’s growth strategy as the company expands rapidly nationwide.

Ad Loading...

Berenbaum brings three decades of experience in financial management. He was previously chief financial officer at Bloom Energy, NI (National Instruments) and Everspin, and held finance leadership roles at Micron and GlobalFoundries. 

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Berenbaum started his professional career as an engineer in the semiconductor industry and spent a decade on Wall Street in analyst and research leadership roles.

“I’m excited to help meet today’s needs of schools and communities to modernize student transportation, and be part of the transformation of an industry that hasn’t changed for 80 years,” he said. “Everything that we do at Zūm enables and empowers communities: parents feel better about how their children are transported, school districts have more confidence in their ability to get students in seats, and communities are more sustainable and have more resilient energy services.”

“We’re pleased to welcome Dan to Zūm’s leadership team as we continue to evolve our business and expand rapidly across the U.S.,” added Ritu Narayan, founder and CEO at Zūm. “Dan’s invaluable perspective and experience, which includes financial leadership roles at several technology and clean energy companies, makes him an exceptional addition to our executive team and is in complete alignment with our mission to deliver safe, tech-enabled student transportation and improved grid resilience to communities nationwide.”

New General Counsel

Last week, Zum also appointed JoAnn Covington as the company's general counsel. 

Ad Loading...

Covington will work with the management team and board to provide strategic legal advice and set governance policies.

Covington previously was chief legal officer at Glydways, a sustainable public transportation system provider, and chief legal officer at Proterra, a manufacturer of battery-electric transit buses, battery systems and fleet charging infrastructure. She previously held leadership roles at technology companies Rocket Fuel Inc. and Electronic Arts (EA).

"I am excited to help Zum achieve its vision to provide safe, efficient, flexible school transportation," Covington said. "In this role, I can bring together my work revolutionizing and reimagining public transportation as general counsel to clean transportation companies, and my extensive experience working with cutting-edge software companies to deliver on Zum's promise for school districts, communities, drivers, children and families."

About Zum

Zūm serves more than 4,000 schools across 14 states nationwide with partnerships including Los Angeles Unified, San Francisco Unified, Oakland Unified, Seattle Public Schools, Boston Public Schools, Omaha Public Schools, and Kansas City Public Schools.

More Management

thumbnail for the route season 2 episode 9 featuring photos of bret brooks and amanda huggett
ManagementSeptember 15, 2026

How to Build a Better Driver Training Program

Ready to boost up your school bus instructor training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety.

Read More →
Catalyst Mobility: Building Clean Transportation Together
Managementby Alex RomanSeptember 14, 2026

CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility

The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.

Read More →
School bus driver training graphic featuring a group gathered around a yellow school bus, with text reading, “Tips for Selecting Superb School Bus Driver Instructors.”
Managementby Amanda HuggettSeptember 14, 2026

What Makes a Great School Bus Driver Trainer?

Choosing the right school bus driver trainer takes more than experience. Learn six keys to selecting and developing trainers and evaluating program effectiveness.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Compton Unified School District transportation staff stand between two yellow school buses, including a small bus and a full-size conventional bus.
Managementby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 11, 2026

School Bus Contractors Expand Through New Deals, Acquisitions & Partnerships

STA's Canadian division acquires Ontario-based G&L Stevenson Transport while Durham School Services adds a new district contract in California, First Student adds a New Jersey contract, and Minnesota Coaches acquires Halo Transportation.

Read More →
A line up of school buses with one out front of the group.
Managementby Elora HaynesSeptember 7, 2026

Logan Bus Company Rolls Out AI Phone System for NYC School Bus Families

A summer pilot found that AI agents could handle most routine calls, freeing up time for customer service staff to focus on emergencies and complex family concerns.

Read More →
Graphic that reads “What I Learned About Leadership” over photos of school transportation professionals participating in discussions and networking at the TAPT leadership event.
ManagementSeptember 4, 2026

From Intent to Impact: What I Learned About Leadership from TAPT

A Texas transportation supervisor shares lessons on self-awareness, accountability, managing stress and building trust — and why investing in leadership development matters at every stage of your career.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic announcing the 2026 NAPT Award Winners, featuring the National Association for Pupil Transportation logo on a blue background with gold stars.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 3, 2026

NAPT Names 2026 Award Recipients, Hall of Fame Inductee

Who earned national recognition for their work in student transportation? This year, NAPT named five recipients of its 2026 awards for service, safety, and leadership, plus its newest Hall of Famer.

Read More →
Zonar Cover for White Paper Survey Results for 2026 State of Student Transportation
SponsoredSeptember 2, 2026

2026 State of Student Transportation Report

Driver shortages. Rising costs. Growing safety expectations. More data, but not enough time to act on it. The 2026 State of Student Transportation Report reveals what transportation leaders say is putting the most pressure on their operations—and where they’re investing next. See how your priorities compare.

Read More →
Graphic reading “Managing Others’ Anger: Keeping Your Cool When Tempers Are High,” alongside a red balloon with an angry face against a stormy background.
Managementby Amanda HuggettSeptember 1, 2026

How to De-Escalate an Angry Person: 5 Steps for Handling Workplace Conflict

What makes emotions run high, and how should you handle an angry colleague or parent? Follow these steps for staying calm, listening, showing empathy, and resolving conflict.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Image of happy school children exiting their school bus
SponsoredSeptember 1, 2026

What Readiness Looks Like This School Year

Learn about the challenges shaping the 2026–2027 school year, from persistent driver shortages and budget pressure to technology and readiness gaps. See how school districts are responding and adapting in Zonar’s 2026 Back-to-School Readiness Report.

Read More →