Site Credits

The Vanilla.Company is the culmination of a collaborative effort, as I have received both assistance and valuable input from many people over the past fifteen years. My credits list would extend for pages if I included everyone who has helped in some way with this project, so I’m listing just those actively involved in the creation of this site. A collective acknowledgement and heartfelt thanks to all of you who have helped me along my vanilla journey.

Those who provided assistance with the site are as follows:

Art Garcia, Graphic Content, Inc.
Art created the Rain’s Choice labels and the stylized orchid found throughout this site. A graduate of the Art Institute of Dallas, Art was a designer and art director for a number of nationally recognized firms before launching Graphic Content, Inc. His award winning designs, logos, illustrations, ads and business collateral pieces have appeared in The Annual Report 100, Type Directors Club, Art Directors Club of New York, American Illustration, Graphis, AIGA, and Communication Arts. In 2001 he won a Gold Award and Bronze Medal at the TOPS creative show for designing the label and collateral materials for Xanath Crema de Vainilla Liqueur. You can reach Art at 214.948.6969 or info@graphicontent.com.

Kathy Long, Kat & Mouse Web Design & Site-etc
Kathy left the corporate world as a graphic designer for Seagate Technology to open her own business, Kat & Mouse Web Design, in 1998. She is also an instructor, and it was while teaching a group of educators on the art of constructing Web sites that she met her partner/programmer, Sim Ayers. Together, with her design skills and his incredible programming skills, they launched SITE-etc in 2001 to enable and empower Web sites with the dynamic functionality of their many varied applications they developed over their years working together. Kathy currently works in her home office and enjoys tending her flower garden, playing the piano, and following her passion for dance when she can pull herself away from her computer.

Mardeene Mitchell, Editor
Mardeene is a writer, writing coach, developmental editor, photographer, and speaker. She is collaborative writer with San Diego psychologist, Dr. Sheldon Z. Kramer, Ph.D. of Hidden Faces of the Soul (Adams Media Corp., July 2000), and with Dr. Jill Kahn of The Gift of Taking (July 2001). She’s in progress on her own two books and screenplays and is based in Atlanta, GA. Mardeene is a longtime friend and has been very generous of her time and expertise over the years both as an editor and photographer. She can be reached at mardeene@mindspring.com.



Brad Wise, Photo Editor
Brad is a professional photographer and graphic designer in Manhattan. He also enjoys writing for stage and screen, and is currently involved in a number of Internet art and digital movie projects. As his mother-in-law, I can assure you that as cute as this photo is, he’s not a child prodigy, but rather, a brilliant adult.



Diana Gaffney, Internet Consulting, Photography
Diana is a New York native who spent the last six years in London as part of a developmental Web design and production team. In September 2000 she moved to San Francisco to experience the West Coast blue skies and the Pacific. Diana has 10 years combined experience in electronic publishing and the internet and is currently working as a consultant while also pursuing her passion for music. Watch for her in the future as a music executive. In the meantime I highly recommend her skill as an internet consultant. You can reach Diana at d_gaffney@yahoo.com.




Julio Pineda, Photographer
Julio has worked in nearly all areas of photography –medical, scientific, administrative, composition and production of audiovisual work, and artistic and portraiture. Originally from Mexico City, Julio has maintained a studio in Papantla Veracruz for over ten years. He was founder of the Sociedad Mexicana de Fotografos Profesionales and has had numerous exhibitions throughout Mexico. He has documented the archeological sites and daily life throughout Totonocapan, preserving on film an important body of information of the people of central Vera Cruz, Mexico. His extraordinary photographs of El Tajin, the Totonaca, and vanilla are available by request. Please contact us at info@vanilla.com for information on purchasing Julio’s photography.


Teodoro Cano Garcia, Artist
A Papantla native, Teodoro Cano was discovered by Diego Rivera at the age of 12 and worked as an assistant to Diego Rivera and Jose Chavez Morado on the University murals in Mexico City. He studied at the National Academy of San Carlos of Mexico City before launching his illustrious career as a muralist, painter, and sculptor. His murals and sculptures can be seen in cities throughout Mexico and he has been the recipient of many awards for his exceptional art. He has been a faculty member of the Veracruz University in Xalapa for many years. He established and served as the director of the Plastic Arts department at the University as well as founded the school of arts in Papantla. In 1999 he created the City Museum of Papantla. Cano has been recipient of numerous awards throughout his career. His original art pieces and prints are available for purchase. Please contact info@vanilla.com for further information on Cano’s artwork.

Susana Jimenez is a dentist residing in Papantla, Veracruz. She is also a talented artist, and has studied with Teodoro Cano. The signature picture in the upper right hand corner of the site is by Susana.

Additional acknowledgements to Gunilla Williams for initial web design work, and to Don Fredrickson and the staff of got.net for their participation and assistance. They can be contacted at www.got.net.

A special thank you to my "family" in Papantla Vera Cruz who have very generously watched after me and given me an enormous amount of help throughout the years I have done research in their home town and region.

This site is dedicated to the workers – past, present, and future – who have labored to bring us pure vanilla. A special tribute to you for bringing us this most remarkable flavor and fragrance.