Our Climate Journey with Jeremy Neigher
“To me, being more sustainable means attacking the challenge at the core by developing and deploying technology that will maximize our impact at the systemic level, and make meaningful progress for the next generation.”
Jeremy Neigher
Vice President of Charter Services
Jeremy Neigher, Vice President of Charter Services for Zum brings 15+ years of experience in cleantech and pioneering technology across renewables, rideshare, and AI-powered recycling. He is seasoned in launching and scaling business lines and is tasked with building Zum’s charter business nationwide.
At Zum, we’re revolutionizing student transportation in order to build a green, sustainable future. What does sustainability mean to you?
I’ve spent the bulk of my career working in cleantech, in solar, rideshare, and most recently in recycling. It’s the reason I moved to the Bay Area 15+ years ago. Building a more sustainable society is the challenge of our time. To me, being more sustainable means attacking the challenge at the core by developing and deploying technology that will maximize our impact at the systemic level, and make meaningful progress for the next generation.
Climate change is the single greatest threat to our way of life, but it can sometimes feel abstract, far away, a problem for another time. How has climate change affected you personally?
Before Zum, I worked at Lyft, where we participated in a donation run following the wildfires around Santa Rosa that burned nearly 40,000 acres and took many lives. There were still active fires in the area; ash was falling, countless buildings were destroyed or had literally melted. A few years later, when I was living in Colorado, another deadly fire struck my community—except this time, it wasn’t during late summer, it was just after Christmas, which is far beyond the typical fire season. The Marshall Fire took out thousands of structures, including the homes of several colleagues and friends. Many didn’t have a chance to save a thing. It’s years later and people are just now starting to move back into their homes.
These fires and the damage they caused have left a lasting impression on me, and have only reaffirmed a sense of responsibility to do my part.
What can Zum do to be a leader in sustainability, to spearhead the charge in the fight against climate change?
One of the things that drew me to Zum is our sustainability vision and our commitment to replace all diesel buses with fully electrified fleets. We’re moving quickly to make this vision a reality.
Of course, it’s not going to be easy. We need to work with partners across the supply chain to procure enough EVs to meet our demand, and collaborate with utilities to install charging infrastructure across the country. School buses are the largest mass transit system in the country; I’m excited to see us make real progress toward this goal as we continue leading the fight against climate change.