Q&A with JoAnn Covington, Zum General Counsel

JoAnn Covington joins Zūm as General Counsel following leadership roles at transportation, technology and renewable energy companies including Glydways, Proterra, Rocket Fuel Inc. and Electronic Arts (EA).

In her new role, Covington will work with the Zum management team and Board to provide strategic legal advice and set governance policies as Zum continues to deliver safe, reliable, sustainable and equitable student transportation nationwide.

Covington shares why she is happy to be part of Zum’s team — and what her own experience was riding the school bus  as a child:

What excites you about your new position at Zum?

I am excited to help Zum achieve its vision to provide safe, efficient, flexible school transportation. 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. 

Which Zum pillar resonates with you the most? (Flexibility, Equity, Efficiency, Safety, Sustainability and Community)

Sustainability: By modernizing student transportation we can improve the quality of life for entire communities and create a resilient electric grid. Our vision at Zum is to transform the nation’s fleet of school buses into a “battery on wheels,” providing crucial power back to the grid. School buses, with their predictable daily schedules and limited operational hours, are an ideal and underutilized resource, typically sitting idle during peak power usage, which makes them ideal strategic assets for our electrical grid. 

Imagine the nation’s fleet of school buses providing energy back to the grid at peak times. By deploying electric buses on our platform, Zum aims to generate over one gigawatt of flexible capacity. This is equivalent to powering more than one million homes for one to four hours, especially when the electricity grid is overloaded. We can have all the benefits of a modern transportation system and enhance our electric grid and energy security at the same time.

What was your experience riding the school bus? Did you face similar student transportation challenges with your own family?

I rode a yellow school bus to school from kindergarten through high school. I remember being photographed on my first day of kindergarten standing in front of the school bus doors gripping my lunchbox. My introduction to school began with the bus ride, and it was a critical part of my day. I remember that bus ride more clearly than the first day of school! 

When I was in grammar school, our school bus route was being eliminated and I joined my first protest: elementary school children walking the mile through city streets and busy intersections from Bunker Hill School to my neighborhood carrying banners and signs. We saved our school bus route. I know firsthand how critical school transportation is to families and students.  

What’s something about you that might surprise people?

I love studying martial arts and I find it relaxing! I earned a black belt in karate and enjoy exploring new forms of martial arts.  When I have free time away from work and family, I love continuing to learn and improve.  For me, practicing martial arts helps ground me and keep me focused, which helps me in my professional life as well. 

What was the last photo you took?

I love being outside, hiking, exploring new places and learning. The last photo(s) I took were in the Sierras at Bodie, an abandoned California mining town which had stamp mills that ran 24 hours a day, six days a week, powered by the Green Creek Power Plant, over 12 miles away. The Green Creek plant was one of the earliest examples of long distance power transmission in the United States. Completed in 1893, it provided electrical power to Bodie until 1941. 

We are delighted to welcome JoAnn to Zum’s team!