Jon
Dege

Jon is a mission-driven leader with a passion for community, education, and social innovation. He brings a unique blend of experience across academia, health education, and cutting-edge transportation technologies.

Jon began his career as a college instructor at the University of Minnesota and the Art Institutes of Minnesota before advancing to Academic Director, where he implemented impactful internship programs, assessment strategies, and accreditation processes. He then served as Senior Director of Outcomes and Optimization at Empowered Education, where he developed and launched health and business coaching programs—including a nationally board-approved health and wellness course.

His work later led him into the world of autonomous transportation as part of the team at May Mobility. There, Jon helped lead the goMARTI pilot in Grand Rapids, Minnesota—an autonomous ride service that provided over 20,000 free rides to local residents and successfully operated through the Iron Range’s snowiest winter on record. He also organized community engagement events, collaborated with local stakeholders, and was featured in the BBC’s Technologies Golden Age documentary series.

Now at The Plum Catalyst, Jon continues to champion accessible, equitable, and sustainable transportation solutions as he leads the goMARTI project and beyond.