This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop- Executive Director Curt Macysyn welcomes first-time guest Denise Patocka, National Account Manager at REI and NSTA Vendor Partner, as part of NSTA's Back-to-School Series. Denise begins by sharing her professional journey and the experiences that led her to the student transportation industry. Curt and Denise discuss how REI approaches innovation with student safety as its primary focus and explore the critical role technology plays in helping transportation departments protect students and support operations. Looking ahead, the duo discuss the opportunities and challenges organizations face during the busy back-to-school season, as well as the importance of collaboration between vendors and operators when implementing new technologies. Curt and Denise also highlight the value of industry engagement through live events like NSTA's Annual Meeting and Convention, where the industry can connect, learn, and share best practices. The episode wraps up with Denise sharing a favorite back-to-school memory and information on how listeners can learn more about REI and its commitment to advancing safety and technology in student transportation. Become a podcast subscriber and don't miss an episode of NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Vendor Partners should reach out to us to take advantage of our comprehensive advertising package that reaches your target audience - student transportation professionals!
