Coupled Up: Kevin and Kalen Redmon

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Kevin and Kalen were introduced to each other through a mutual friend during their Freshman year at college.  After Kevin quipped a few witty lines such as, “You’re name is Kal, like California?” and a few "not-so-funny questions" (according to Kalen) about her home island, Puerto Rico, it didn’t seem too certain that the pair would end up together.  But after a couple of months of running into each other on campus ("and more awkward flirting from Kevin," she says with a chuckle) he began the relationship with a kiss during a power outage in one of Atlanta’s famous ice storms. Kevin proposed almost eight years ago this Jat Kalen’s grandfather’s house in the Dominican Republic.  What Kevin didn’t know was this was the exact same place where her father married her mother, and that Kalen's grandfather proposed to her grandmother on that same land.

The idea of their business, Limón Verde was created after a trip Kalen took with her father to his home country, Colombia.  Her first time there in 16 years, she was reintroduced to Filigrana Momposina—a style of filigree specific to the city of Mompox.  She brought some pieces home and, after some discussion with Kevin, decided that they could make a business by introducing this beautiful jewelry to the States.  After finding an artisan there, Kalen began sending her own designs to be handcrafted.

As a husband and wife team running a business together (as so many couples seem to do) the good news is: yes, they get along! Kalen, being more creative-minded, and Kevin, being more business-minded—leaves them little room for butting heads. The art of compromise and understanding leads the way to a great relationship.

Kevin on Kalen:  "One of Kal’s biggest qualities is the balance between her incredible humbleness and her intense self-confidence rooted from her Latin genealogy.  I can’t tell you how fun it has been to grow this company together.  At the end of the day, it’s pretty damn cool to run a company with your best friend."

Kalen on Kevin: "I admire Kevin's determination.  His business sense brings great calmness and reassurance to me, as I rely on him to make the difficult decisions. He's my rock."