CAKE is run by a small, dedicated crew of volunteer organizers and coordinators. Here are our organizers and volunteers present and past.
Organizers
Kevin Budnik
Kevin Budnik (he/him) is an Ignatz-nominated cartoonist who grew up in Rogers Park. A graduate of Columbia College and former editor of LINEWORK. Kevin’s work has appeared in The Chicago Reader, New City and online at The Nib. He was invited as a special guest for CAKE 2016, and in the past has helped coordinate programming for CAKE. 2024 was his first year as a full-time organizer.
Chris López
Chris López grew up in swampy south Florida, raised by Cuban food, alligator sightings, and mosquito bites. Now he's a long-term Rogers Parker living with his husband Jason, where he has created various comics and contributed to a few comics anthologies. Recently, he has learned how to knit and is attempting to make fun fabric friends.
Matthew McCormick
Matt McCormick grew up working in a comic shop, which started his love of the funny pages and the movies they inspired. Trying his hand in movie-making increased his appreciation for the work, dedication, talent, and bravery involved to make any art, especially that which is deeply personal.
Simon Morrow
ALEX O’KEEFE
Alex (she/her) is an illustrator, librarian, and storyteller. Her creative work often takes the form of comics, drawings, fiber arts, zines, and book arts. As 1/2 of DnA Artists, she's been focusing on making cute designs and silly comics for the past few years. She's a CAKE super-fan turned Organizer, and her unofficial titles include hype queen, excel wizard, and documentation beast.
Andrea Pearson
Andrea Pearson (she/her) is a cartoonist, zine maker and founder of the small press zine distributor Aquatic Panda Distro. She writes and draws about her life in her long-running, autobiographical comic zine series No Pants Revolution. After years as volunteer and coordinator for CAKE Chicago, she has become a full time organizer in 2026. You can view some of Andrea’s art and scribbles on Instagram @Saturn2169.
Parish Turner
Parish Turner (he/him) is your friendly neighborhood library worker with a strong passion for arts, comics, graphics, food, stationery, and shirts (he’s a HUGE SUCKER FOR SHIRTS). After volunteering with CAKE nine years ago, he continued returning each year, growing from volunteer to volunteer coordinator and now Organizer in 2026. He’s excited to help curate an enjoyable CAKE experience for all.
Coordinators
Addie Grosse • Gus Kelsey • Aaliyah Lachel'e • Leo Mancini
Kat Park • Stephen Winchell
Past Organizers + Coordinators
We would also like to mention an extremely deep well of gratitude for all of the previous CAKE organizers and coordinators. Many thanks to those who started this organization and those who kept it running throughout the years:
Organizers: Alli Alleman • Aim Beland • Ben Bertin • Matt Brady • Neil Brideau • Jessica Campbell • Tyrell Cannon • Sage Coffey • Edie Fake • Mike Freiheit • Marnie Galloway • Jon Mastantuono • Max Morris • Amy Peltz • Tony Recktenwald • Jackie Roche • Grace Tran • Ed Witt • Jeff Zwirek
Coordinators: Andrea Bell • Ben Bertin • Kelsey Borch • Brian Cremins • KT DiGiovanni • Corinne Halbert • Cathy Hannah • Amara Leipzig • Sheika Lugtu • Megan Metzger • JJ McLuckie • Alex Nall • Isabella Rotman • André Wenzel