At headquarters:
... Josiane Smith, production manager
... Sue Bare
... Richard Grainger, occasional "odd jobs"
... Anna Stephan, sanitation/sanity

The laser shop:
... Thomas Atkinson
... Elijah Allen
... Sue Bare

In the Renaissance:
... Elijah Allen
... Thomas Atkinson
... Arthur Blumberg
... Seth Bonder
... Eileen Shaivitz
... Hans Weidig
... Katrina Weidig
... Steven Joel Zeve
... Sue Bare

Working at home:
... Rita Krauth—sewing, assembling
... Josiane Smith—assembling, peeling
... Sue Bare —admin., PR, all else
... Anna Stephan—assembling
... Marilyn Mabe—peeling, wrapping
... Penny Burke—sewing

On the road:
... Elijah Allen (math conferences, gaming conventions, holiday village)
... Sue Bare (art shows, conferences, holiday village)

Gone but not forgotten:
... Dave Smith
... Julie Stevens
... Fabian
... Ken Isbell
... Chuck Coates
... Chris Palmer
... Rolinda Collinson
... Jack Acly
... Meshele Merchant
... Eric Bare
... Adam Criswell
... Alex Streif
... Krystal Goodrich

Josiane Smith is the office manager and production coordinator. Her ability to keep track of countless steps, items, tasks and orders is a gift. More than once, though, we caught her writing memos in ink on her palm, to remember to take home. "Slips of papers can get lost," says the supreme organizer. She runs the gamut from gluing to sewing in turning components into finished products. In the shipping department, Josie wields the tape-gun with the gusto of an Annie Oakley. After seeing to it that all others are assigned their particular projects, "everything else" is done by moi, the French-born Mrs. Smith notes. When not tackling Kadon stuff, Josiane does yoga, works in her lush garden, and converses with her three loving felines, Flash, Annie, and Panda. She lost her beloved husband, Dave, in May 2002.


Josie in our spacious split-level workroom,
lining Quintillions boxes with felt.





Sue Bare is Kate’s daughter. In late 2017 she moved from Minnesota to Maryland to help run the business. She brought all her talents and spirit to this venture. Her many years of work experience and skills in management, crafts, organization, marketing and problem-solving are a priceless boon to every aspect of our enterprise. And she has two grown children: Kinsey earned her degree in nuclear engineering, and Oakley is a wiz auto mechanic. They still live in Minnesota and are greatly missed. But that's what phones and airplanes are for.
 





Rita Krauth is on the Board of Directors of Kadon and the Counselor Troi of this enterprise. Her gentle guidance, keen insight, incomparable listening skills and soothing voice have a healing and balancing influence in all corporate concerns.

Rita colors in the Game of Solomon game mats and pitches in with other production as needed, helping us heroically to meet deadlines and rush jobs.

There is a marvelous view from her kitchen across the rolling farmlands of Carroll County, Maryland, serene and fertile. A warm, old-fashioned family feeling permeates Rita's home, populated variously by up to 9 cats, her husband, Tony, an extended family of sisters, cousins, brother, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors, a son, a daughter, daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren. In the summer the action moves to the large swimming pool and patio out back. Permit us to name-drop: Rita's son, Steve Krauth, has his name on the credits of the animated film, "Prince of Egypt," for doing computer magic for Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks in California.

A graduate of the Baltimore School of Massage, Rita has many tools of holistic healing, and the wisdom to use them well.   Photograph by Angelika Petrik

Thomas G. Atkinson came on board on Labor Day, 2004, through a serendipitous meeting with Kate at the World Science Fiction Convention in Boston. Turns out he'd known of us and been buying our puzzles for at least 10 years.

From the first moment, he fit like a hand in a glove, and we wondered how we had managed all those years without him. He looks wonderful in costume at our Renaissance Festival booth, and his familiarity with our products quickly made him a fine teacher. His many talents involve him in every facet of our designing, wood and laser production, presentation and logistics.

Thomas has been making costumes since shortly after his birth (his "Baby With Bib and Carrots" was voted "Best Use of Roots and Tubers" at GerberCon '64). He attended his first Con in 1976 and has been a permanent fixture since. His costumes include "The Empire State Building," "Chernobyl Clean-Up Crew," "2010 Pajamas," "Winter's End (Potted Plant)," "Spaceman Spiff," "Lot's Wife," and a score of re-creation outfits, including Star Wars and Star Trek. Here we see him in his Jedi Knight garb.

Thomas is one of the world's greatest Star Wars fans. He started collecting Star Wars toys and memorabilia when the first movie came out in 1976, and he has not stopped since. His collection forms the basis of The Star Toys Museum, of which Thomas is Curator. In 2007, a portion of his collection was on exhibit for several months at the Geppi Museum in Baltimore. An all too short interview about his collection is on YouTube.

Thomas has a great affection for the classic tangrams puzzle, and his car is instantly recognizable by the several designs attached to it with magnetic pieces. The designs change with the seasons, including a Christmas tree and Santa Claus. His former car sported a Star Wars paint design and was on exhibit in Baltimore's 2007 ArtScape parade. Its brazen theft in 2010 left a lasting sense of loss.

Empowered by the State of Maryland to perform weddings, Thomas officiated at the marriage of Eric Bare and Meshele Merchant. It was a beautiful and poignant ceremony.

Thomas lives at Meerkat Meade with his spouse, writer Don Sakers.