Board of Directors

Members of the Board of Directors of the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild are elected for two-year terms. Three board seats come up for election on even years, and three board seats and the Presidency come up for election on odd years. Elections take place in the spring at the Annual Conference. Terms start on July 1 and end on June 30.

The HSCG President and Board serve as volunteers and are not paid. Those who have chosen to serve on the Board have shown their true dedication to the HSCG and the handcrafted soap and cosmetic industry through their selfless service to and for the HSCG.

Gates Councilor, President

Gates owns and runs Burly Stone Soap Co. in Mystic, CT and has been a member of the HSCG since 2014. Gates was elected to the Board of Directors in 2018 and then elected as President in 2019.
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Barb De Los Santos, Vice-President

Past board member Barb De Los Santos was appointed to the board in 2015 to replace Holly Port who had to resign mid-term. Barb previously served from 2010 - 2014, and was re-elected to the board in 2016.
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Sharon Czekala, Secretary

Sharon Czekala, owner of The Great Lakes Natural Soap Company, and Places, has been a member of the HSCG since 2007. Sharon has been serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors since being elected in 2017. Sharon is an HSCG Advanced Certified Soapmaker in both CP/HP and MP, an Advanced Cosmetic Maker, and an Advanced Certified Teacher.
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Catherine McGinnis, Treasurer

Catherine is the owner of The Soap Deli in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, as well as Soaping101, a very popular on-line group and has been a member of the HSCG since 2014. She is an HSCG Basic Certified Soapmaker in both CP/HP and HP and is also an HSCG Teacher. Catherine was elected to the Board of Directors in 2017 for a one-year term and re-elected in 2018 for a two year term.
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Beth Byrne

Beth is the owner of Soap and Garden in Rochester, New York and has been a member of the HSCG since 2009. She began her experience with the Board of Directors in 2010 and served for 6 years until her third term ended in 2017. She was appointed again in 2019 to fill a vacated two-year position. Beth is certified in MP Basic and CP/HP Basic and Advanced.
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Julie Koenig

Julie is the owner of Kreative Kraftwerks LLC and Absolute Soap located near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She has been an HSCG member since 2008 and is an HSCG Advanced Certified Soapmaker in both CP/HP and MP. She also received her Basic Cosmetic Certification and is an HSCG Teacher. Julie previously served on the HSCG Board of Directors from 2011 to 2017 and was re-elected to the Board in 2019.
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Stephanie Falsetta

Stephanie is the owner of Goats in a Coat, in Montgomery NY, and has been a member of the HSCG since 2014. She was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2019 to fill a vacancy.
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The following people have served on the Board of Directors of the HSCG*. Their dedication, participation and contribution has been greatly appreciated. They are sincerely thanked for all they have done to further the objectives and goals of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild. (* since 2003)