Zūm Senior Maintenance Manager Recognized for Outstanding Leadership

This week, Arnoldo Adaire, a Senior Maintenance Manager at Zūm, received national recognition for his service and leadership.

School Bus Fleet, a publication that covers school transportation, honored Arnoldo as part of its feature about young leaders in the transportation industry. The awards highlight people under 40 who “bring a unique perspective and think outside the box, driving innovation to advance the industry and meet the needs of students, parents, and schools alike.”

As a Senior Maintenance Manager, Arnoldo plays a critical role in getting thousands of students in Los Angeles to and from school, safely and on-time. Each morning he arrives at the yard at 5 a.m. to review work orders, making sure any needed repairs are prioritized while also conducting preventative maintenance inspections. He often works 12 hours per day in order to support both the morning and afternoon shifts.

“We are so proud of Arnoldo and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition,” said Zūm CEO Ritu Narayan. “Arnoldo’s hard work and dedication positively impacts the lives of thousands of families every day. He exemplifies Zūm’s values of putting the safety of our drivers and students first.”

Arnoldo says his favorite part of his job is working with the drivers, and he gets a lot of satisfaction in making their jobs easier.

“They wake up before dawn and often have a long commute time to the yard, yet they do it because they love working with the kids,” he says.

Arnoldo grew up in Jamaica, where he worked in an auto shop. After high school, he moved to California and began working in student transportation. Now that he has a daughter of his own, he says the job hits even closer to home – and he believes it’s a gift to take care of the world’s most precious cargo every day.

“When buses go out, they cannot have any issues that would impact the driver,” Arnoldo says. “I want the driver to be able to focus on the most important part of their job: the children.”

Congratulations to Arnoldo for his achievement!