The VegFest L.A. Team

Meet the people who make it all happenOrganizing VegFest is no small task. Our crew of volunteers work around the clock to bring this incredibly inspiring day to the public. From office administrators to entertainment coordinators to graphic designers to flyering teams, these are the everyday heroes and heroines that have helped to make VegFest Los Angeles what it has become today.

Mario Fabbri – Learning Kitchen Co-Coordinator and Leadership Team – mario@bananareel.com

Mario Fabbri is a cooking show host and board member of VegFestLA. Mario grew up in Chicago where his dad owns an Italian Sausage factory that he once anticipated taking over. At 18 yrs old he moved to Boulder, CO and found a passion for helping entrepreneurs solve environmental issues. He began his TV career on the QVC shopping network. Today Mario hosts the cooking show “Trying Vegan with Mario” where he challenges expert chefs, nutritionists and celebrities to teach their best vegan recipes.

Melissa Breslow – Assistant Producer, Mind Body Space – melissa@vegfestla.org

Melissa Breslow has volunteered with VegFest since 2013. She is the founder of Open Eyes Foundation, an awareness campaigns that helps to inspire solutions for a sustainable future. Melissa runs a dance music record label and tours as a singer/songwriter. She teaches yoga, is an aromatherapist and a sound and energy healer. Melissa loves VegFest L.A. because it is a fun day where we build a strong community to empower each with love and gratitude to create positive change.

Lisa Karlan – Learning Kitchen Coordinator & MC – lisak@vegfestla.org

Lisa Karlan is a Heath Educator and Nutrition Consultant & has been the Learning Kitchen Coordinator for VegFest LA since 2016, an annual labor of love spreading the vegan message through food demonstrations w/notable vegan chefs. She is a contributor/reporter for #LunchBreakLIVE on Facebook.com/janevelezmitchell, a daily live vegan cooking show. Lisa is a certified Food for Life Instructor, w/the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine teaching about the practice of plant-based nutrition.

Liz Zeigler – Exhibitors Co-Coordinator – liz@vegfestla.org

Liz has been volunteering with the festival since 2011 and became co-coordinator of the Exhibitors team in 2013 (when the festival was known as WorldFest). She thinks festival day is hands-down the best day of the year and can usually be found eating every bit of vegan goodness she can get her hands on in the food court! Liz is a lover of all animals and is the owner of Must Love Dogs Mobile Grooming. She’s the proud mommy of her 2 dogs Mo and Gregory and her 3 cats Bette, Marilyn and Otto.

Dave Rutan – Signs/Troubleshooter – dave@vegfestla.org

Dave has been a member of the VegFest team since 2002 as sign coordinator, admissions assistant, and general troubleshooter. A vegan since 1991, Dave is also active in animal rights activism in Los Angeles. He founded Vegan Toastmasters in 2003-see vegantoastmasters.org for more info.

Char Seferian-Schrock – Food Coordinator – char@vegfestla.org

Lisa MacMillan – Exhibitor Co-Coordinator – lisa@vegfestla.org

Jeanette Kozlowski – Vegspiration Tent Coordinator – jnetkoz@gmail.com

Jorie Denny – Coordinator – joriedenny@gmail.com

Jorie is a lover of animals and the Mom of 2 active boys.

Biljana Milasin – Co-Coordinator Kid’s Kingdom – biljana@vegfestla.org

As a teacher, photographer and artist I love working with children in creative ways. With the Family Love Village I worked festivals like LiB, Boogaloo and Symbiosis. Currently I work as a preschool teacher in West LA.

Anji Lum – Happy Healthy Vegan – anji@happyhealthyvegan.org

Ryan and Anji have been creating vegan focused content since 2013, with a current viewership of over 135 thousand on YouTube, 58 thousand on Instagram, and 24 thousand on Facebook. This Long Beach based duo have created 700+ videos covering a wide range of topic including plant based news, health and fitness tips, product and restaurant reviews, recipes and vlogs. Anji released her debut vegan cookbook, Keep It Carbed, Baby!, in 2016.