Running A Small Press Expo with SLICE, CAKE, and MILK
Saturday, 5/2/26
4:30 - 5:45
Panel • McGinty Room
Representatives from SLICE, CAKE, and MILK give you a behind the scenes look at how volunteers run small press events! Branding, funding, collaborating, organizing,, and more are all parts of the process! Learn from these experienced organizers as they talk about the hardships, surprises, and value of running small press events in the midwest.
Kat (she/her) is an editor in St. Louis, MO. She is the Board Secretary for the St. Louis Independent Comics Expo (SLICE) and has been on the organizing team since 2022. She is also a freelance editor for First Second, proofreader for WEBTOON Unscrolled, and production coordinator for AHOY Comics. They live with their cat, Spider, who is a goblin in disguise. Follow Kat: @katvendetti on Instagram and Bluesky.
Chris (he/him) has been on the organizing team for the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) for over ten years and volunteering for even longer. His comics have been published in Spiny Orb Weaver #2 and Tiny Catastrophes, as well as self-published on osoart.com. Lately, he’s been considering how much a Risograph could change his life, or at least his free time. Follow Chris: @osoart.com on Bluesky.
Hali is a freelance illustrator based out of Milwaukee. Her comic work has been featured in anthologies like CYBER LEWDS, and she’s done work for role-playing companies like Hunters Entertainment, BOTCH, and Pangur Ban Collective. During the day, she is the manager of a local comic book store. Hali is also a founding member of MILK (Milwaukee Indie Local Comics) since its inception in 2022, currently handling social media and art direction. Follow Hali: @slumberfish on Instagram.
Steenz is a St. Louis based cartoonist, professor, and editor. They're the cartoonist on the new graphic novel Side Quest: A Visual History of TTRPGs, and the syndicated comic strip ‘Heart Of The City’. Steenz currently teaches at Webster University and SVA while editing titles from independent publishers and creators. They’re also Board President of SLICE (The St. Louis Independent Comics Expo). Follow Steenz: @ohheysteenz on Instagram and Bluesky, oheysteenz.com