User:GA Kevin/2026 OpenStreetMapUS Board Position Statement

Userboxes

	This user submits data to OpenStreetMap under the name GA_Kevin.

	I support OSM by being a member of the OpenStreetMap Foundation. Are you?

	This user hails from the USA

	This user hails from Florida

en	This user is a native speaker of English.

no-1	Denne brukeren kan litt som Norsk (bokmål).

macOS logo	GA Kevin uses a macOS computer.

iOS logo	GA Kevin uses an iOS mobile device.

	GA Kevin prefers Mozilla Firefox.

	GA Kevin submits data to OpenStreetMap using iD.

	GA Kevin submits data to OpenStreetMap using JOSM.

	GA Kevin uses CoMaps

	GA Kevin uses OsmAnd, mobile map viewing & navigation app.

	GA Kevin submits data to OpenStreetMap using Go Map!!.

	GA Kevin submits data to OpenStreetMap using Rapid.

	GA Kevin enjoys solving MapRoulette challenges.

	GA Kevin is interested in micromapping.

	GA Kevin takes photos for Mapillary as GA_Kevin.

	GA Kevin takes photos for Panoramax.

	GA Kevin links from OpenStreetMap to Wikidata

	GA Kevin links from OpenStreetMap to Wikimedia Commons

	GA Kevin invites others to review and discuss his changesets.

	GA Kevin prefers to go outside and map.

	GA Kevin prefers to actually do stuff.

	GA Kevin likes to help beginners.

	This user… …is not a cat.

	This user pledges to advocate for the participation of more women and girls in the OSM community.

Hello! For those of you who don't know me, my name is Kevin Ratzel (GA_Kevin on OSM)and I hail from the "Sunshine" state, Florida!

I started to map in OpenStreetMap when we had a hurricane which destroyed a local library. Knowing data consumers took some time to update, I wanted to do my part, and through our attribution guidelines, found OpenStreetMap! Well, the rest is history and since December 2024 I have made over 1,300 changesets to OSM.

What I've Done

Outside OpenStreetMap

I currently work in the financial technology sector, working as a client relationship manager for Fortune 500 clients.
I am a proud Eagle Scout.
My alma mater is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (on OSM.)
When not surveying or working, you can find me at a leisure=dog_park or on a short trail with my dog, Nestle.

In OpenStreetMap

See my user page

Micromapped a few small towns such as Remerton, GA (including street-level imagery of every road) and Argyle, GA in my early months of OSM.
Coordinated the permission and import of Tesla Superchargers across the United States. See the TagInfo map for a visual.
Updated every Walmart in the United States with sensory-friendly hours and accommodations.
When working on Matt's mascot map, started and completed every High School mascot in Georgia in one sitting.

On the OpenStreetMap Wiki

Created 4 proposals, 2 of which passed (including the sensory-friendly tag), which was covered at State of the Map U.S. 2025 in the talk "Mapping for Neurodiversity" by Tim Feller.
Updated the charging station page with up-to-date, clear language for adding EV chargers to OSM. I also cover this topic in my Mapping USA 2026 talk "Fast Charge: Accelerating EV Accessibility with Better Maps."
Updated the community forum email list and proposal process pages after successfully proposing removal of the requirement to post on mailing lists for new proposals, including creating a new template, color sample.

With the OpenStreetMap Community

Coordinated a virtual mapping party where we mapped Port Townsend, Washington. See the wiki page and Port Townsend on OSM.
Attended State of the Map US 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Have been an active member of the OSM US Slack (Join us!), OSM World Discord, and OSM Reddit Community lending a helpful hand where I can and utilizing the wealth of information and experience we have collectively.

In a Technical Sense

Follow on GitHub

Contributed to OSM projects GoMap!!, OSM Americana, and the Name Suggestion Index on their GitHub.
Created Suggest-A-Brand to help non-technical mappers add to the Name Suggestion Index.
Documented (in a detailed, non-technical manner) a way for users of ARM machines (such as Raspberry Pi) to be able to upload to Mapillary using the CLI and Oracle. See my OSM diary for the posts.

What I'm Doing

Activities

Planning for State of the Map US 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin as part of the 2026 SOTM US Program Committee.
Preparing for Mapping USA 2026 and my talk on EV infrastructure on Friday at 3:05PM.
Working on improvements for Suggest-A-Brand and pushing for attraction land uses in OSM Americana (a particular interest due to my proximity to the Orlando theme and water parks.)

In OpenStreetMap

Learn more about DeFlock

Micromapping around Brevard County, FL Brevard County, FL, especially around Eastern Florida State College Eastern Florida State College lately.
Adding new EV charging stations as they become available by monitoring online news, announcements, or additions to the Alternative Fuel Data Center.
Surveying small strip malls and identifying neighborhood boundaries.
Increasingly interested in surveillance and DeFlock activities as a form of activism.

... To be continued. This is a draft ...

User:GA Kevin/2026 OpenStreetMapUS Board Position Statement