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Christina Henry
Christina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author and New York Times Best seller whose works include The House That Horror Built, Good Girls Don’t Die, Horseman, Near the Bone, The Ghost Tree, The Girl In Red, The mermaid, Lost Boy, the Chronicles of Alice series (Alice, Red Queen, and Looking Glass) and the seven-book urban fantasy Black Wings series. Her short stories have been featured in the anthologies Elemental Forces, Cursed, Twice Cursed, Giving the Devil His Due and Kicking It. She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son. |
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Cynthia Pelayo
She is a Bram Stoker Award winning and International Latino Book Award winning author and poet. Pelayo writes fairy tales that blend genre and explore concepts of grief, mourning, and cycles of violence. She is the author of Loteria, Santa Muerte, The Missing, Poems of My Night, Into the Forest and All the Way Through, Children of Chicago, Crime Scene, The Shoemaker’s Magician, Forgotten Sisters, Vanishing Daughters as well as dozens of standalone short stories and poems. |
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Libby Shea
MSOE graduate, long-time Concinnity Guest Coordinator, Libby is the co-author of How to Celebrate Your Fandom (Zepo Publishing, 2024). She has contributed to other books such as Outside in: Takes a Stab and Red, White, and Who. She is creates and designs games, and runs the game room and events at national conventions such as Chicago TARDIS and GenCon. |
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Ryan Jay
Ryan Jay is one of America’s most popular nationally syndicated entertainment critics, a Hollywood insider, fashion police in Us Weekly magazine, and a Wizard of Oz and Wicked historian. He can be seen weekly on the NBC-TV affiliate in Milwaukee, WI: Fridays on The Morning Blend and on Saturday morning newscasts, reviewing what’s worth seeing or skipping, in theaters and streaming on TV. On radio, he is live Friday mornings on FM stations across the country, in addition to recorded weekly segments for Premiere Networks. Ryan is a member of the Critics Choice Association which annually awards excellence in film at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards; and the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association which annually hosts The Dorian Awards. He regularly showcases unique interviews with nationally touring and local theater performers on social media. On the red carpet at movie premieres and events, he has interviewed many of Hollywood’s A-list celebrities. Prior to his work as a journalist, his career spanned 13 years in television production, producing major pop culture and entertainment programming for networks such as Bravo, Showtime, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, TLC, and even The Jerry Springer Show. |
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Dr. Eric Baumgartner
Dr. Eric Baumgartner is executive vice president of academics at MSOE. He provides strategic leadership and direction across academic disciplines and oversees institutional effectiveness, the Applied Technology Center (ATC), Walter Schroeder Library and Registrar’s Office, as well as the Pieper Family Endowed Chair for Servant-Leadership and the Uihlein/Spitzer Chair of Entrepreneurship. Prior to joining MSOE he served as dean of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering at Ohio Northern University. He previously was a senior member of the engineering staff at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Baumgartner also taught at UCLA and Michigan Technological University. His research areas of expertise include robotics and automation, higher education, and manufacturing. Particular accomplishments include: NASA Group Achievement Award, Mars Science Laboratory SA/SPaH Subsystem Development Team (2013), NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (2004), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Robotics and Automation Award (2008) |
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Steven Warren Hill
Author of Silver Scream (Vols. 1 and 2), Doctor Who: Red, White and Who: The Story of Doctor Who in America, How to Celebrate Your Fandom and writer/performer of Mysterious Theater 337 and Thriller Theater! as well as the founder of Gallifrey Base, the world's largest Doctor Who forum. |
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Robert Warnock
Co-author of the books "How to Celebrate Your Fandom", "Red, White, and Who: The Story of Doctor Who in America" and "Silver Scream" (volumes 1 and 2), Robert is a musical composer who has written soundtracks to films such as "Thriller Theater!" and "Traumaturge". He is a cast member of "Mysterious Theater 337", has been active in the Doctor Who fandom for over 35 years, he has helped oversee conventions such as Chicago Tardis, GangCon, and the Sci-Fi Flea Market. His album "The Greatest Adventures (Second Stage)", an homage to the Apollo Moon Mission that actually uses a sample of moon rock on the recording is available on Bandcamp at Planet14 Music. |
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J. Dietenberger
Executive Strategic Consultant, University Lecturer, Administrator, and Engineer in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Internships, and Technology. He brings ivy league training, extensive sector, and multi-industry expertise. He is a senior-level Information Technology, Project Management, and Organizational Development leader. Mr. Dietenberger has over 25 years experience consulting domestically and internationally with a multitude of clients with diverse backgrounds — including Global 500, AmLaw 200, CxO/Executive Suite, as well as Startups, and Scale-ups. In addition to serving on multiple Corporate, University, and Community boards, he has managed projects valued up to $100 million and advised on projects upwards of $1 billion. Having authored with a member of the STEM Advisory team to a former President at the White House, the focus of this leader is “transformational success in pursuit of the client’s objectives.” He is a frequent industry speaker and utilizes processes that are collaborative, engaging, and transformational. |
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SungWon Cho
SungWon Cho is a voice actor you may have heard in God of War: Ragnarok, Borderlands 3, Aggretsuko, Ranking of Kings, One Piece, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, Neon White, AI: The Somnium Files: Nirvana Initiative, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Granblue Fantasy: Versus, Odd Taxi, Craig of the Creek, Radiant, Tuca & Bertie, Pokemon: Twilight Wings, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, Adventure Time: Distant Lands, gen:LOCK, Judgment & Lost Judgment, Monster Hunter Rise, Disgaea 6, A Hat in Time, Monster Prom, Soulcalibur VI, Lackadaisy, Akudama Drive, and more. You may also know him from YouTube. He loves his cats Effie and Sophie very much. |
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Lyzzi Brooks
Lyzzi is the developer and designer of the RPGen Gaming App which can be found on the Apple and Google Play stores. She has also designed board games and is active in the gaming community. Lyzzi was the co-founder of the MSOE Game Development Club when she was a still a student at MSOE and is a professional software developer for her day job. |
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Tyler Thomas
Tyler has been making visual novels with his group, Somnova Studios, since 2012. The team's current project, Missing Stars, focuses on portraying young adults with mental health problems in a positive and respectful manner. Tyler got his degree in Media Arts and Game Development at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he learned the ins and outs of coding, software development, and project management. After graduating, he started working as a software developer while making visual novels with Somnova Studios. He has worked on several other titles since then, including Arcadia, A Field of Flowers and Stars, and Forged In Ice, all made during game jams with fellow visual novel developers |
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JAMES LOWDER
James Lowder is the author of the bestselling, widely translated dark fantasy novels Prince of Lies and Knight of the Black Rose; short fiction for such anthologies as Shadows Over Baker Street; comic book scripts for Image, Moonstone, and DC; and RPG material for TSR, White Wolf, and Steve Jackson Games. As an editor, he has directed novel lines or series for both large and small publishing houses, edited nearly two dozen anthologies, and currently serves as Chaosium’s executive editor. His work has received six Origins Awards and two ENnie Awards, and been a finalist for the International Horror Guild Award and the Stoker Award. His annual holiday Games to Gift segment has aired on WUWM’s Lake Effect since 2010. |
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John Lavalie
John is a television researcher and a co-founder of epguides.com. He is the curator of the Doctor Who Cutting Archive and BroaDWcast website. He is also a contributor to the Fuzzy Images online television museum. John is a co-author and researcher of "Red, White, and Who: The Story of Doctor Who in America". |
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Robert Warnock
Co-author of the books "Red, White, and Who: The Story of Doctor Who in America" and "Silver Scream" (volumes 1 and 2), Robert is a musical composer who has written soundtracks to films such as "Thriller Theater!" and "Traumaturge". He is a cast member of "Mysterious Theater 337", has been active in the Doctor Who fandom for over 35 years, he has helped oversee conventions such as Chicago Tardis, GangCon, and the Sci-Fi Flea Market. |
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Larry VanMersbergen
Larry VanMersbergen is the host and producer of The Doctor Who Collectors Podcast. He started watching Dr. Who in 1975. He founded the Dr. Who Store “Bundles from Britain” in 1984 and in 1985 became partners with Gene Smith. Larry was a dealer at Tardis 22 in 1985. Larry has been a Dr. Who collector since 1981 and a fan of the show since 1975. Larry has been a speaker on many Dr. Who topics at Chicago TARDIS in Lombard, IL, Concinnity in Milwaukee, WI, Orycon 43 in Portland, OR, Twin Cities Console Room in Minneapolis, MN, and Doctoberfest in Indianapolis, IN. Larry is also the CEO of Direction Point, a Doctor Who Podcast Network. Larry often brings most of his collection to conventions to talk about Dr. Who collecting and items that are usually not seen up close. Larry also wears his 5th Doctor Cosplay on Friday and Saturday. You can find him at Doctorwhocollectors.com. [email protected] |
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Brian "Capt. Corrugate" Neubauer
Special effects and model builder, worked on miniature effects for the Emmy Award-winning Pioneers of Television, as seen on PBS. Find out more about him at http://www.binerman.com/ |
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John Lavalie
John is a television researcher and a co-founder of epguides.com. He is the curator of the Doctor Who Cutting Archive and BroaDWcast website. He is also a contributor to the Fuzzy Images online television museum. John is a co-author and researcher of "Red, White, and Who: The Story of Doctor Who in America". |
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Robert Warnock
Co-author of the books "Red, White, and Who: The Story of Doctor Who in America" and "Silver Scream" (volumes 1 and 2), Robert is a musical composer who has written soundtracks to films such as "Thriller Theater!" and "Traumaturge". He is a cast member of "Mysterious Theater 337", has been active in the Doctor Who fandom for over 35 years, he has helped oversee conventions such as Chicago Tardis, GangCon, and the Sci-Fi Flea Market. |
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Scott Kongable
SCOTT IS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CONVENTION DUE TO A SCHEDULING CONFLICT, BUT WILL ATTEND NEXT YEAR. Scott Kongable is an editor and writer for the “Top Secret: New World Order Game” which is published by Solarian games. Scott is game master for the longest know continually running TS:NOW campaign and is successful well beyond his gaming endeavors. |
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Ryan Jay
Ryan Jay is one of America’s most popular nationally syndicated entertainment critics, a Hollywood insider, fashion police in Us Weekly magazine, and a Wizard of Oz historian. He can be seen weekly on the NBC-TV affiliate in Milwaukee, WI: Fridays on The Morning Blend and on Saturday morning newscasts, reviewing what’s worth seeing, or skipping, in theaters and streaming on TV. On radio, he is live Friday mornings on FM stations across the country, in addition to recorded weekly segments for Premiere Networks. Ryan is a member of the Critics Choice Association which annually awards excellence in film at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards; and the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association which annually hosts The Dorian Awards. He regularly showcases unique interviews with nationally touring and local theater performers on social media. On the red carpet at movie premieres and events, he has interviewed many of Hollywood’s A-list celebrities. Prior to his work as a journalist, his career spanned 13 years in television production, producing major pop culture and entertainment programming for networks such as Bravo, Showtime, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, TLC, and even The Jerry Springer Show. |
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Robert Warnock
Co-author of the books "Red, White, and Who: the Story of Doctor Who in America" and "Silver Scream" (volumes 1 and 2), Robert is a musical composer who has written soundtracks to films such as "Thriller Theater!" and "Traumaturge". He is a cast member of "Mysterious Theater 337", has been active in the Doctor Who fandom for over 35 years, he has helped oversee conventions such as Chicago Tardis, GangCon, and the Sci-Fi Flea Market. |
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Dr. Eric Baumgartner
Dr. Eric Baumgartner is executive vice president of academics at MSOE. He provides strategic leadership and direction across academic disciplines and oversees institutional effectiveness, the Applied Technology Center (ATC), Walter Schroeder Library and Registrar’s Office, as well as the Pieper Family Endowed Chair for Servant-Leadership and the Uihlein/Spitzer Chair of Entrepreneurship. Prior to joining MSOE he served as dean of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering at Ohio Northern University. He previously was a senior member of the engineering staff at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Baumgartner also taught at UCLA and Michigan Technological University. His research areas of expertise include robotics and automation, higher education, and manufacturing. Particular accomplishments include: NASA Group Achievement Award, Mars Science Laboratory SA/SPaH Subsystem Development Team (2013), NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (2004), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Robotics and Automation Award (2008). |
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John Lavalie
John is a television researcher and a co-founder of epguides.com. He is the curator of the Doctor Who Cutting Archive and BroaDWcast website. He is also a contributor to the Fuzzy Images online television museum. John is a co-author and researcher of "Red, White, and Who: the Story of Doctor Who in America". |
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ERNIE G. GYGAX JR.
Ernie is the son of E. Gary Gygax who wrote the formal rules for Dungeons & Dragons. Ernie was one of the first players at the table for the first formal D&D Game and played the first magic user (Tenser). He contributed to the game by helping with spells and rules that he father playtested at their regular game. He is the author of the epic Hobby Shop Dungeon game and the upcoming release "The Marmorial Tomb". We welcome him back and look forward to his joining us again! |
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Bob Brinkman
A man who wears many hats (literally), he is a Role Playing Game author for Dungeon Crawl Classics and has contributed to the modules of Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition by making classic modules playable. He helps run the Sanctum Secorum DCC podcast. His pirate music troupe Marooned can be seen entertaining fans in the halls at GenCon. This is Bob's first convention appearance as a guest, which is likely way overdue. |
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Simon Todd
Illustrator, writer, and publisher for MontiDots Ltd. Author of "The End of Kings" 17th century England RPG. His other works include "Limbus Infernum", "The Thormbadt Peninsula", and "The Earth Abides" (horror set in the 1920s). He is currently finishing his newest work "Typhon". Simon Todd illustrated Ernie Gygax's book "Sammi-Zowa vs the Dueling Dragons". |
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Heath Farnden
The host of the "The Antipodean d20" podcast, which can be found on Facebook. Hailing from Adelaide, South Australia, Heath is also well known for his photography at GaryCon, specifically the "large group Hawaiian t-shirt picture." We look forward to hearing about his gaming down under. |
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Anna Kaas
A contributing writer to the "Outside In" book series, as well as a contributor to "Red, White, and Who". Anna helps organize conventions to include Chicago Tardis, FriendCon, Time Winds, and often helps organize the Living Dungeons for in-person Concinnity Cons. She is also an upcoming co-author of the novel "Children of the Dark". |
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Lyzzi Brooks
Game designer of the dog sled racing board game "Tundra Run". She's an active tabletop and video gamer, and has her own ongoing campaign called "Grimspire". Her passion for mushing extends to real life, as she participates with Door County sled dogs. Co-creator of the upcoming gaming app RPGen. |
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Jen Brinkman
Jen has been a gamer for over 25 years and is the head acolyte for the Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG. She has written for the Hobby Shop Dungeon project and indie zines, edited for multiple RPG publishers, and is the line editor for both the DCC Lankhmar and DCC Dying Earth projects from Goodman Games. She can be heard on the "Sanctum Secorum" and ENnie-winning "Spellburn" podcasts. |
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Jayson Elliot
A lead figure in modern gaming, Jason oversees TSR Games which is known for "Top Secret: New World Order", "The Hunt: the Ultimate Arena Sport" game, and the "Pantheon" series of TTRPG modules. Jayson was one of the publishers of the critically acclaimed but short runned "Gygax Magazine". |
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Merle Rasmussen
Creator of the world's first espionage role playing game "Top Secret". Nicknamed "The Administrator", Merle has contributed to "Top Secret: SI", "Top Secret: NWO", and "Dungeons & Dragons". Merle was a game designer at the original TSR Hobbies, and we are proud to have him at our convention. |
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Robert Warnock
Co-author of the books "Red, White, and Who: the Story of Doctor Who in America" and "Silver Scream" (volumes 1 and 2), Robert is a musical composer who has written soundtracks to films such as "Thriller Theater!" and "Traumaturge". He is a cast member of "Mysterious Theater 337", has been active in the Doctor Who fandom for over 35 years, he has helped oversee conventions such as Chicago Tardis, GangCon, and the Sci-Fi Flea Market. |
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John Lavalie
John is a television researcher and a co-founder of epguides.com. He is the curator of the Doctor Who Cutting Archive and BroaDWcast website. He is also a contributor to the Fuzzy Images online television museum. John is a co-author and researcher of "Red, White, and Who: the Story of Doctor Who in America". |
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Vanessa Giunta
A writer of weird things, an editrix extraordinaire, and a little bit of a nerd. The kind of evil that inspires hugs. Her books include the "Soul Cavern" series ("Jivaja", "Blue.Edged Soul", and "Visci") and "Tempus Anima". She also authored over five episodes of "Fictionvale". We look forward to a special workshop she will be doing. |
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ERNEST GARY GYGAX Jr Legendary game designer who helped in creating Dungeons & Dragons. His work in the field of role playing games spans several decades, and his knowledge and experience is nearly unsurpassed in the field. JAMES LACROIX Independent Comic book artist and writer of Critical Mass and the ongoing Tales of New Chicago web comic strip. Find out more about him and his work at http://baconmoosecomics.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baconmoose/21342096884720 THEE BLUEBEARD Pirate, Actor, Comedian, Performer, Artist, and Entertainer. Beloved character of the Bristol Renaissance Faire for the last 3 years, Bluebeard has performed his show at various venues all over the country. You can find him at http://www.theebluebeard.com/ [Unfortunately, Thee Bluebeard had to cancel his appearance] Vourteque One of America's quickly rising stars in the electro swing and neo-vaudeville communities. Musician, producer, remix artist, DJ, carny and ringmaster; Vourteque has entertained and wowed crowds from Los Angeles to New York. Find out more at http://www.vourteque.com MARK CMG Game designer and online role playing game reviewer. Find out more at http://www.creativemountaingames.com/ [Unfortunately, Mark CMG had to cancel his appearance] CHRIS GUZMAN Unique artist creating custom-painted boxing gloves of athletes, celebrities, and loved ones. Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Guzman-Gloves-LLC/263095273752659 BRIAN “CAPT. CORRUGATE” NEUBAUER Special effects and model builder, worked on miniature effects for the Emmy Award winning Pioneers of Television, as seen on PBS. Find out more about him at http://www.binerman.com/ STEVEN W. HILL Author of Silver Scream (Vols. 1 and 2), Doctor Who: Red, White and Who, and writer/performer of Mysterious Theater 337 and Thriller Theater! as well as the founder of Gallifrey Base, the worlds largest Doctor Who forum. JENNIFER ADAMS KELLEY Contributor to the Hugo award winning book Chicks Dig Time Lords, convention organizer and costuming expert. ROBERT WARNOCK Contributor to the books Silver Scream (Vols. 1 and 2), composer and musician on independent film scores and convention music. |