Washington D.C. | March 1-6, 2026

The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Leadership Academy is a national professional development program designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in community and public transportation. The academy brings together professionals from across the mobility ecosystem to strengthen leadership skills, build strategic thinking, and foster collaboration across agencies and organizations.

Through a structured curriculum that includes workshops, peer learning, and mentorship, participants explore leadership practices, organizational strategy, and innovative approaches to advancing mobility services. The program focuses on preparing participants to guide their organizations through evolving transportation challenges while strengthening the impact of community transportation nationwide.

Regional Mobility Director Jon Dege is participating in the CTAA Leadership Academy on behalf of The PLUM Catalyst. His participation reflects PLUM’s ongoing commitment to professional growth, leadership development, and strengthening the networks that support innovative and inclusive mobility solutions.

https://ctaa.org/leadership-academy/

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Conference Highlights

The CTAA Leadership Academy provided a valuable opportunity to connect with emerging leaders across the rural transit sector and explore strategies for strengthening transportation systems in communities across the country. The program focused on leadership development, policy awareness, and collaboration among professionals working to expand mobility options in rural and small urban areas.

As part of the CTAA Legislative Fly-In, Jon met with the offices of Representatives Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber, as well as Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, to discuss the importance of continued investment in rural transportation and mobility innovation. These conversations highlighted the growing national interest in solutions that address transportation gaps in rural communities.

During these meetings, Jon shared the success of the Smart Rural goMARTI project as a real-world example of Northern Minnesota helping lead the conversation around technology-enabled rural mobility. The discussions reinforced how initiatives like goMARTI can serve as scalable models for communities across the country exploring new approaches to improving transportation access in rural regions.