Team & Governance

RIT is built and operated by people who believe civic infrastructure is too important to leave to chance. Here's who we are and how to join us.

Leadership

Johnathon Rhoades

Founder & President

Johnathon Rhoades founded and operates the Rhoades Institute of Technology (RIT), where he oversees development, legal filings, outreach, event planning, and much of the organization’s day-to-day administration. Before launching RIT, his background in facilities management shaped the way he approaches complex problems: as connected systems involving people, infrastructure, logistics, and real-world constraints. That systems thinking now carries through everything from RIT’s civic mission to its technical development. A self-taught developer, he began by asking questions about civic systems in conversations with AI and turned those conversations into a nonprofit and nine active projects totaling more than 250,500 lines of code. He shares that work and mission with his wife, fellow founder Margaret Russell.

Kyle Reynolds

Founder & Vice President

Kyle Reynolds brings a grounded, real-world perspective to the Rhoades Institute of Technology. With nearly a decade of experience in security across both guard and management work, he understands the value of clear communication, responsibility, and trust. Through conversations, outreach, and a willingness to ask difficult but honest questions, he has helped RIT stay connected to people with different experiences and viewpoints. His hardworking attitude and drive to keep improving himself have made him an important part of the organization’s foundation.

Margaret Russell

Founder, Treasurer, & Secretary

Margaret Russell brings more than ten years of experience in corporate web development and PIM systems to RIT’s mission. Her talent for cross-functional collaboration has made her an essential part of building an organization focused on connecting people, perspectives, and projects. She graduated from Gateway Technical College with an Associate’s Degree in Web Development and Administration and a 4.0 GPA. She shares that work and mission with her husband, fellow founder Johnathon Rhoades.

Join the Board

RIT is actively seeking board members. We're looking for people who bring expertise and care about civic infrastructure — not titles.

Director — Governance

Nonprofit compliance, 501(c)(3) operations

Director — Technology

Cybersecurity, software architecture, AI safety

Director — Community

Civic engagement, community organizing, education

Director — Legal

Nonprofit law, intellectual property, licensing

Director — Finance

Nonprofit accounting, grant writing, financial oversight

Inquire About Board Positions

Volunteer

RIT welcomes volunteers who share our values. All volunteers are asked to review the RIT Volunteer Agreement before contributing.

Translators

Help make our content accessible in Spanish, Hmong, Arabic, German, and Polish. AI-generated drafts are available for review.

Artists

Contributing visual work for projects, events, and branding. Both paid and volunteer positions available.

Developers

Open-source contributions to RIT projects (subject to shared source agreements where applicable).

Community Organizers

Help establish local interest-based groups following the RIT community model.

Policy Researchers

Contribute to legislative frameworks like the PTAA.

Get in Touch

Governance

RIT has adopted formal governance policies during its founding phase. These documents guide how decisions are made, how conflicts are handled, and what standards the organization holds itself to.

Policy	Status
Articles of Incorporation	Filed
Bylaws	Draft
Compensation Policy	Adopted
Meeting Procedures Policy	Adopted
Nonpartisan Policy	Adopted
Conflict of Interest Policy	Adopted
Whistleblower Policy	Adopted
Document Retention & Destruction	Adopted
Gift Acceptance Policy	Adopted
Social Media & Communications	Adopted
Media Content Disclaimers	Adopted
Wisconsin-only Fundraising Disclaimer	Adopted
Digital Privacy & Data Collection	Adopted

Full policy documents are available to board members and authorized parties. For governance inquiries, contact us.