Evan, owner and creator of The Vegan O'Brien Baking Company is a native Manhattanite. After high school Evan was eager to get out of the big city, but not too far away. This drew him to New Paltz, a charming community not too far from his hometown, where he attended SUNY New Paltz and studied TV and Radio Production. Loving the energy of diverse community and creative vibe around town, Evan remained in New Paltz after he graduated, deciding to ditch the career path he'd studied, and began a 9-year career driving trucks for a living.

Evan started baking cookies during college for potlucks and birthday parties, and they were always a big hit. One fateful day when he was about to make some cookies, he realized that he was out of eggs. Evan's roommate informed him he could use a banana instead of an egg and make the cookies vegan! Evan, not yet vegan, soon learned he'd need to substitute the milk and butter to actually veganize his recipe. The (almost) vegan cookies were a huge hit, and he was encouraged to sell his cookies at the local deli.

Evan eventually became vegan himself and continued to bake cookies on the side. The long and lonely days of truck driving took a toll on Evan and he decided to quit driving. Looking for a new direction in life, he decided to take a chance and try baking cookies for a living, and the The Vegan O'Brien Baking Company was born. Evan now sells his cookies throughout New York City and the Hudson Valley.