When pupil transportation professionals gather in Louisville, Kentucky, for NAPT ACTS 2026, the QuikConnect Marketplace and Cafe will provide a dedicated opportunity to make connections, exchange ideas and learn more about the products and services supporting the industry. Held Sunday, October 4, from 2:05 to 4:05 p.m. ET, QuikConnect brings attendees together with vendors and suppliers serving pupil transportation operations throughout the United States and Canada.
Ahead of this year’s event, School BUSRide spoke with members of the NAPT community about what makes QuikConnect a valuable part of the ACTS experience. From the perspective of a returning attendee to the expectations of a first-time participant, along with insights from sponsoring and participating companies, these voices offer a preview of the conversations, connections and solutions attendees can expect to find in Louisville.
Our Participating Sponsors:
I participated in the first QuikConnect at NAPT in 2025. The event provided an opportunity to speak with the vendors present in a one-on-one setting. It allowed a period of time when both parties could focus entirely on each other without interruption. This allowed me to ask questions and gain new ideas on the product(s) offered and also allowed me to trouble-shoot any issues with options that I already have in place. I am looking forward to the next opportunity to connect.
M. Lee Livingston CDPT
Director of Transportation
San Angelo ISD
Bring your questions to this year’s QuikConnect Marketplace at NAPT! Meet one-on-one with our powertrain and product experts to discuss your district’s specific needs, and let us help you build your fleet. As the only manufacturer in North America offering diesel, gasoline, propane, and electric buses, we are completely committed to giving you the power of choice to meet your unique operational goals. Whether you manage specialized routes or an entire fleet, we will guide you through the broadest portfolio in the industry, spanning Type A, C, and D school, multi-function, and commercial buses. We look forward to connecting one-on-one to discuss how we can drive your operation forward!
Audrey Myers
Digital Marketing Specialist
Blue Bird
AMF Bruns is proud to participate in the NAPT QuikConnect Marketplace because it provides a unique opportunity to connect directly with student transportation professionals and have meaningful conversations about the challenges they face every day. As a company dedicated to improving safety and accessibility through innovative wheelchair securement solutions, we value the opportunity to learn from transportation leaders while sharing best practices, training resources, and products designed to support safe and efficient transportation for all students.
Attendees can expect engaging discussions, hands-on knowledge, and insights into the latest advancements in wheelchair securement and occupant safety. We look forward to building new relationships, strengthening existing partnerships, and supporting the student transportation community
Maritza Valentin
National/Contract Account Manager
AMF-Bruns of America
I signed up because I believe that making connections turns into solutions. Coming together, we can solve more problems and be a more successful team. I always enjoy coming together with colleagues and working together.
Kayla Denaco
Assistant Director of Transportation
Lewiston Public Schools
EverDriven is proud to participate in the NAPT QuikConnect Marketplace because we share NAPT’s commitment to ensuring safe, reliable, and equitable transportation for all students. As a leading provider of alternative student transportation solutions, we partner with school districts nationwide to help address transportation challenges, improve operational efficiency, and support students whose needs may extend beyond traditional yellow bus services.
At the Marketplace, attendees can expect to learn about our latest innovations designed to improve efficiency, compliance, and outcomes for students who need transportation solutions beyond traditional options. Whether you’re an existing partner or discovering EverDriven for the first time, we want to hear about your challenges and show you how our solutions can help.
We look forward to meaningful conversations, new connections, and deepening the relationships that make student transportation better for everyone.
Annie Dodd
Events Manager
EverDriven
We all know that getting kids to school can be a challenge and now there’s a large market and growing demand for safe, reliable bus alternatives in student transportation — school districts and their students need an innovative, flexible solution. That need is often going unmet as many districts cannot find suitable vendors and resort to the less-than-ideal use of taxis or having staff drive a school van. But what if there was a universal solution to this problem?
Alternative transportation provides students with special transportation needs safe, consistent, and cost-efficient student transportation. In an industry where districts often work with multiple vendors, each with a standalone solution for the district’s various transportation needs, the introduction of First Alt solution at First Student provides one universal solution for school districts for all of their transportation needs.
During the Quick Connect meetings we’ll explore the many advantages of implementing alternative student transportation into a yellow bus company and how incorporating a century’s worth of experience exceeds the current industry standard for ensuring student safety is a top priority and necessary accommodations are provided for all students.
Emily C. Buckley
Marketing Manager
First Student, Inc.
Rosco is proud to participate in the QuikConnect Marketplace because we share a common goal with the entire pupil transportation community: keeping drivers, students, and everyone on the road safe. Events like this bring together professionals who are committed to advancing safety, and we believe it is critical to ensure that the entire industry is aware of the latest technologies available to support that mission.
At QuikConnect, attendees can expect to learn how Rosco’s innovative vision and safety solutions—ranging from camera systems to advanced driver awareness tools—help reduce risk, improve visibility, and save lives. We look forward to meaningful conversations, sharing best practices, and collaborating with industry peers to continue raising the standard of safety across pupil transportation.
Amy Ahn
Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Programs
Rosco Vision
School districts are doing more with less, and transportation is often where the pressure is most acute. HopSkipDrive is participating in the QuikConnect Marketplace because NAPT is where the people solving the hardest student transportation challenges come together, and we want to be part of that conversation.
At our table, attendees can expect practical conversations about what it actually takes to transport their most complex routes and vulnerable students safely and reliably: students covered under McKinney-Vento, students with IEPs, for example. We’ll walk through how RideIQ gives transportation teams real-time visibility, six-hour ride turnarounds, and verifiable compliance without subcontractor layers and guesswork that come with some transportation partners. Conversations will demonstrate ways HopSkipDrive’s Consistent CareDriver Program and Ride-Recording: In-App can help address some of the most common challenges we hear from the districts we partner with across the country.
Stop by our table to share your unique transportation challenges and learn about ways we can partner to solve them together.
Lauren Rueger
Sr. Director of Marketing
HopSkipDrive
IC Bus is proud to participate in the NAPT QuikConnect Marketplace as an opportunity to connect directly with transportation leaders and better understand the challenges they face every day. This format creates meaningful, one-on-one conversations focused on listening, learning, and identifying new ways to partner in support of their evolving needs.
Attendees can expect open dialogue around their priorities, insights into what’s new from IC Bus, and discussion on solutions that support fleet optimization, driver performance, and overall operational success. Most importantly, they’ll experience our commitment to being a long-term partner—supporting their district’s success and delivering an exceptional ownership experience every step of the way.
Christy Zukowski
Sr. Marketing Manager
IC Bus
At RIDE, student safety is at the heart of everything we do. As a battery-electric school bus OEM, we believe every child deserves a safe, clean, and reliable ride to school. We welcome opportunities to share what we’ve learned about vehicle safety, battery technology, and real-world fleet operations to support informed decision-making that benefits students, families, and the communities we serve.
Bryan Morales
Marketing Manager
RIDE
Thomas Built Buses is participating in the marketplace to engage directly with transportation leaders and to gain a deeper understanding of the evolving needs of school districts. These engagements help ensure that its solutions remain aligned with the operational realities of pupil transportation while reinforcing long-term partnerships.
At the summit, attendees can expect structured, solution-oriented discussions focused on safety, reliability, and innovation across Thomas Built Buses’ diesel, gasoline, and electric product offerings. Company representatives will provide practical insights, share relevant industry trends, and outline actionable strategies designed to enhance fleet performance and operational efficiency. Thomas Built Buses remains committed to serving as a trusted partner, working collaboratively to support transportation directors in making well-informed, confident decisions.
Crystal Staley
Marketing and Event Planning Manager
Thomas Built Buses
Tyler Technologies is proud to participate in the NAPT QuickConnect Marketplace. We share a common goal with the pupil transportation community: helping districts safely and efficiently transport students every day. Events like this bring together transportation professionals committed to improving operations, enhancing communication, and supporting student success — and we believe it’s important to share the technology and best practices that help make that possible.
At QuickConnect, attendees can learn how Tyler’s connected Student Transportation solutions help districts improve routing efficiency, support drivers with turn-by-turn navigation, strengthen student safety, and keep families informed with real-time communication tools. We look forward to meaningful conversations, sharing ideas with industry peers, and collaborating to advance safe, reliable, and transparent student transportation operations.
Becky Metivier
Director of Marketing
Tyler Technologies
As a proud sponsor of the NAPT Marketplace, Micro Bird is excited to support an event that brings together student transportation professionals from across North America to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore the future of school transportation.
Throughout the event, attendees can connect with our team to learn more about our complete lineup of Type A school buses, available with gas, propane, and electric powertrains. We’ll be showcasing solutions engineered for safety, durability, and long-term value, while discussing fleet strategies, vehicle configurations, and emerging technologies that help school districts meet today’s operational challenges. We look forward to building new relationships, reconnecting with industry partners, and supporting the important work of safely transporting students every day.
Lauryanne Allie
Marketing Manager
Micro-Bird
Transfinder’s Routefinder PLUS Goes Beyond Routing
Routefinder PLUS helps school transportation teams Go Beyond Routing with intelligent tools that transform planning, scheduling, and daily operations. Powered by Atlas, Transfinder’s AI-driven intelligence platform, Routefinder PLUS delivers smart maps and smart times by leveraging real-world vehicle movement data, actual routing speeds and stop-time information. Advanced features such as intelligent categorization, calendar-based routing, and operational insights help districts improve accuracy, reduce manual effort, and make more confident decisions. Now PLUS includes Live Share, which allows team members to share live maps, route information, notes, whiteboards and operational data with trusted stakeholders (e.g., Fire/ EMS, community leaders, Administration). The result is more efficient transportation management, better resource utilization, and a superior experience for drivers, dispatchers, schools, families and students.
Robb Snyder
Director of Marketing
Transfinder
Student mobility is evolving rapidly, and QuikConnect Marketplace provides a valuable forum for the industry to come together around what’s next. Zum is excited to be part of the conversation as school districts increasingly look for new ways to improve reliability, address workforce challenges, and modernize operations through technology.
During the event, we will showcase how Zum’s Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) platform brings together AI, real-time operations, workforce management, parent communications, and electrification into a single, connected system. We look forward to engaging with transportation leaders from across the country, sharing lessons learned from districts nationwide, and discussing how technology can help deliver more reliable transportation, improve the student, family, and staff experience, and ultimately expand students’ access to education.
Sarah Skinner
VP of Partnerships and Corporate Strategy
Zūm