STAFF

caryn ‘C’ coyne
(she/her)
Owner

By day Caryn is a Project Manager opening popular restaurants and sweet treat stores; and by night is the 'fearless but kind leader' that produces the apocalyptic world of Dystopia Rising Georgia. Her focus on community outreach is only overshadowed by her love of road trips and family, with a focus on creating inclusive spaces.

KEVIN KWASHNAK
(HE/HIM)
COMMUNITY DIRECTOR

DR is Kevin's first (and only to date) LARP experience. He found DR while searching his interest in post-apocalypse and zombies, gave LARP a go and found a new hobby. One big thing he's enjoyed is getting to know such a diverse group of people. People that he probably would never have met otherwise. He brings his experience as an attorney to this position: active listening, organization, being able to talk with people, being able to work with others, and a sense of compassion.

Mat Jarvis (He/HIM)

Director of
Experience design & story

Mat has been LARPing for 11 years in the Southeast. He was on the game creation team for Awakening as well as the first year story team; he served various tenures as lead storyteller, head of plot, and GM for Nero Atlanta. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego and is a college professor and horror scholar. Presently, he is writing a book entitled Horror in God’s Country about horror films in the 1990s and the culture wars for the University Press of Mississippi. He is a inductee into the Bouchet Society at Yale for his work in diversity and education.

Samantha (SAM) Edwards
(She/they)
Settings & Ops Director

Sam is super excited to be your settings and operations director here at DR Georgia! They started larping back in 2015 and worked for various larps around Georgia. She’s been in the Cosplay loop since 2005 and worked on a few films as an assistant makeup artist. They construct sets and props for a local junior college’s theater productions, and they run a home based haunt every Halloween for the local kids and grownups. She’s made plenty of children and parents scream and cry every year, but those are stories for another day!

Adrien Tepes
(He/Him)
Logistics Director

Adrien has been involved in LARP since 2019 where he found an immediate passion for the hobby. As a frequent Ops Goblin, he has the ability to herd the feral cats that are larpers and cares a little too much about organization. Outside of game space, he enjoys photography, digital artwork, a variety of handicrafts, and video games.

brandon york
(He/Him)
new player & safety Director

Brandon has been LARPing in the Southeast for approximately 15 years, having served as a world-builder, a plot-member, and a storyteller at three LARPs before coming to Dystopia Rising. During the week, he’s a high school English teacher and soccer coach, having taught in public schools for 19 years.  Prior to that, he taught Philosophy for six years at the University of Missouri where he earned his graduate degree.  His undergraduate degree is from the University of Louisville, double majoring in English and Philosophy. He likes cats.