Alex Palafox was born and raised in Modesto, California. As a proud member of the LGBT+ community, Alex has a passion for all things nerdy and artistic, while also enjoying the opportunity to meet and connect with people from all walks of life.
A fun fact about Alex is that he is a raver, so living by P.L.U.R.—Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect—is an important part of who he is. Inclusivity is at the heart of Alex’s mission, with a commitment to creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, welcomed, and empowered to participate.
Francisco “Frisco” Gutierrez is the founder and executive director of the Culture and Fandom Collective (CFC) and show director of CulturaCon. Proud of his Latino roots and identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Frisco is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where culture, creativity, fandom, and community come together.
A lifelong Sacramento-area resident, small business owner, and cancer survivor, Frisco brings experience in event production, volunteer coordination, convention operations, and community engagement. Through CFC, he works to support artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and volunteers while creating opportunities for people to develop practical skills and become future event leaders.
Frisco founded CFC to help underrepresented communities feel seen, celebrated, and connected, and to build events where everyone feels welcome to participate, create, and belong.
Jaime Ontiveros is the Treasurer of the Cultural and Fandom Collective. A passionate fan of anime, Broadway, and cosplay, Jaime believes it is important to create a welcoming space where creatives can come together, connect, and share their passions.
Born in Mexico and raised within the foster youth system in Sacramento, Alejandro developed deep roots in both communities, which have significantly shaped his perspective. He found anime and video games to be instrumental in fostering connections and friendships.
A true jack of all trades Alejandro dedicates his time outside of gaming and anime consumption to acquiring a diverse range of new skills, from computer and electronic repairs to motorcycle maintenance and riding.
Michelle, also known as Misha Rios, is a dedicated member of the Cultural and Fandom Collective (CFC). She has been cosplaying for six years and is well known for spreading joy by giving out stickers and goodies to fellow fans and creatives. Misha loves bringing happiness to others and enjoys helping people pursue their passions and succeed in achieving their dreams.
Erica loves expressing her creativity through arts and crafts, as well as baking 🧁 When she’s not working or enjoying one of her hobbies, she can usually be found spending time with her beloved animals ❤️
As someone who is new to the convention scene, Erica has been amazed by the incredible creativity and talent within the cosplay community. She joined CFC because she enjoys meeting new people and looks forward to helping and supporting the community in any way she can 🫶🏼
Francisco “FEZ” Mendez is originally from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, and was raised in Turlock, California. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, FEZ embraces creativity, self-expression, and individuality. Artistically inclined, he has a passion for all things art, gaming, and entertainment.
Fun Fact: FEZ has a Latin drag persona that is driven by glamour, with a unique nod to cosplay culture, 80s camp, and horror.
"ZEKE" was born and mostly raised in the Bay Area, specifically the South Bay. He moved around many times and recently moved to north of Sacramento. As someone who is heavily embedded in the LGBTQ+ community, they use he/they pronouns due to being genderfluid. Even though they moved around a lot later in their life, they tapped into their creativity and into geek culture. They're a furry, a brony, an otaku, and into TTRPGs like D&D. When he's not gaming or working on cosplays, he can be found composing music or working on an abstract math problem.
Bonus fact: Although they have a BA in Mathematics, they have an AA degree in Music Performance and has played and sang in small ensembles, concert bands, and even orchestras.