Driving America Forward with Greg Massa
“At VBCPS, we’ve long focused on understanding our transportation ecosystem–our drivers, our routes, our students. With Zum, we now have real-time visibility into all of it.”
Greg Massa
Transportation Systems Specialist
Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Greg Massa is a seasoned technological applications specialist with decades of experience supporting municipal governments across the United States. Since joining Virginia Beach City Public Schools in 2018, he has played a key role in managing and modernizing the district’s transportation systems—ensuring over 40,000 students travel to and from school safely, reliably, and efficiently.
How is VBCPS driving innovation forward?
At VBCPS, our greatest challenge in student transportation has always been accessing real-time student data to efficiently route more than 40,000 students—and quickly relaying that information to families and staff.
Our previous routing system had been in place for over 25 years. It served us well for much of that time, but in years past, it’s become increasingly clear that it can no longer meet the evolving needs and expectations of the Virginia Beach community.
We’ve made incremental improvements over time, including:
- Optimizing our bus routes
- Installing onboard devices to track driver attendance and provide turn-by-turn directions
- Rolling out vendor applications to allow parents and school staff to view transportation details
Despite these boosts, though, we’ve still found ourselves behind the ball, and operating reactively rather than proactively. Our team has spent way much time fielding questions from parents, school staff, and administrators—information that should’ve been available in real time and through multiple channels.
That’s where Zum changed everything. Zum brought the innovation we needed: real-time access to data and insights that make our transportation system smarter, more transparent, and more efficient. They are truly leading the way.
Innovation is the instant access to data and information that can make a system more efficient—and Zum is at the forefront.
From your perspective, how is Zum driving America innovation forward?
If innovation is about using data to create more efficient systems, then Zum is among the most innovative companies in student transportation today.
At VBCPS, we’ve long focused on understanding our transportation ecosystem—our drivers, our routes, our students. With Zum, we now have real-time visibility into all of it. We know where students are, we can optimize the most efficient paths to and from school, and we always know the exact location of every bus. Communication with drivers is live, and parents are now fully connected and informed—right from a single, unified platform.
That’s what sets Zum apart: they’re a true one-stop shop.
Honestly, when we first released the RFP for a new transportation partner, I had never heard of Zum. I didn’t think they stood a chance. But they surpassed every expectation. From quickly understanding our complex, four-tier system to delivering seamless hardware and software integration, Zum proved they could meet all our needs in one centralized solution.
When you think of the future, what role do children/the next generation play, and how can we set them up for success?
The best thing we can do for the next generation is lead by example—by showing them that technology is a tool for solving real-world problems.
That includes embracing artificial intelligence. At its core, AI is about using data to enhance efficiency. When we apply it to areas like route optimization, we should be transparent with students and families about how and why we’re using it.
In doing so, we not only improve our systems—we also inspire kids. We show them what it looks like to trust, adapt to, and build with cutting-edge tools. That builds confidence, sparks curiosity, and empowers them to be fearless innovators who shape a smarter, more connected future.