The Arion Press

Rolph Blythe has worked in the publishing industry for over twenty-five years. Prior to joining Arion in 2020 he worked as Publisher of Counterpoint LLC where he oversaw the Counterpoint Press and Soft Skull Press imprints, publishing over 65 original titles a year. He has worked at Basic Books and Graywolf Press in marketing capacities and at the Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency as a literary agent. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

Ted Gioia is a writer, critic, and seasoned nonprofit professional. Before joining Arion in 2021, he was the Partnerships Director of McSweeney’s and worked on development teams at La Casa de las Madres and the University of the Underground. Ted is also the co-founder of the poetry nonprofit Blank Verse Films, the curator of the "Rising Writers” reading series at the Mechanics Institute, and a former juror on the California Book Awards. His writing on food and culture has appeared in The New Republic, The Believer, and The American Scholar. Currently he is writing a book of essays about food and class in the 21st century. Ted is a graduate of Harvard University (writing his senior thesis under James Wood) and is also a member of the San Francisco Writers Grotto.

Kris is originally from Massachusetts. A former professional musician, he studied graphic design at the California College of the Arts and worked as a book and graphic designer. He’d been on no fewer than three Arion tours before applying to learn type founding at M&H Type.

Brian has a printing degree from MATC and worked in offset web and screen printing. In 2008 he joined M&H Type as a typecasting apprentice under Lewis Mitchell. These days he co-manages M&H's daily operations, maintains the historic casting machines and presses, and works the presses as needed. Brian is a member of the Northern California chapter of the American Printing History Association, the American Typecaster Fellowship, and volunteers with San Francisco Public Library's annual Valentine’s Day broadside event.

A life-long love of working with her hands led Megan to study bookbinding at the North Bennet Street School in Boston. Upon graduation in 2015, she went to work in Santa Barbara as the Head Bookbinder for Heirloom Bindery until a chance encounter revealed the Arion Press apprenticeship program. Working under Rochelle Youk, Megan began her apprenticeship in 2016 and now runs day-to-day production in the bindery. An active member of the Guild of Bookworkers and board member of the Hand Bookbinders of California, she also creates her own work as Long Arrow Bindery.

Jocelyn is from San Francisco and grew up in the Crocker Amazon. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz with degrees in cognitive science and studio art, with an emphasis in printmaking. It was during her final semester bookbinding course that she learned about Arion Press and its apprenticeship program, and she now trains as the newest bindery apprentice. After a brief stint in a corporate office she is thrilled to be working with her hands and in the arts. Her art has been acquired by the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts and shown at the de Young Museum, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery, and Kala Art Institute, where she is a former artist in residence.

Rochelle graduated from San Francisco Art Institute in 2010 with an MFA in Painting and started as a bindery apprentice shortly thereafter, training under Leif Erlandsson and Sarah Songer. During that time, she has served the press in a variety of bookbinding roles, including consulting on Deluxe editions, and management of the bindery since 2016. As a visual artist working across media, she also maintains a studio with the Dogpatch Collective, is in the current cohort of artists with the Korean American Artist Collective and is a member of the Berkeley Art Center’s Program Committee.

Alex studied Fine Art and Art History at Loughborough College of Art and Design, and grew up in households both in England and France, surrounded by art, antiques and antiquarian books. Prior to joining Arion, he worked in real estate for twenty-five years in West London. Alex is a keen musician and has written soundtracks for The BBC, independent documentary and film makers, and for various artists. He has had a long affiliation with San Francisco and, as a semi-professional chef and qualified sommelier, enjoys exploring farmers markets and vineyards, in addition to the many cultural treasures this beautiful city has to offer.

Hella is a 2016 graduate from Lake Forest College, Illinois, with a bachelor’s degree majoring in Finance and minoring in Mathematics & studio art. She is originally from Ethiopia and immigrated to the U.S. while a teenager. She worked as a staff accountant for six years at Meseret Y. Zeleke, CPA and is currently a candidate to sit for the CPA exam. Outside of accounting work, she spends her spare time practicing various visual arts, including sketching and painting.