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.

Charlene Simon, President

Charlene is the co-owner of Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium in Hot Springs, AR and has been a member of the HSCG since 2012. She was elected to the Board of Directors in 2014, and re-elected to the Board in 2016. Charlene was elected for a two-year term as President in 2017, to replace the out-going President.
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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, in Canton, Michigan, has been a member of the HSCG since 2007 and is and HSCG Advanced Certified Soapmaker in both CP/HP and MP. She is also an HSCG Teacher. Sharon was elected to the Board of Directors in 2017 for a two-year term.
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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 to fill the seat vacated by Charlene Simon when she was elected President, and re-elected in 2018 for a two year term.
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Jana Rife

Jana is the owner of Hanalei Bath in Ball Ground, Georgia, and has been an HSCG member since 2013. She is an HSCG Basic Certified Soapmaker in both CP/HP and HP. Jana was elected to the Board of Directors in 2017 for a two-year term.
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Cheryl Mitchell

Cheryl is the owner of Miss Doyle's Soapery in Savannah, Missouri and has been an HSCG member since 2013. She was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2017 to fill an empty seat. Her term expires in 2019.
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Gates Councilor

Gates owns and runs Burly Stone Soap Co. in Mystic, CT. He's been a member of the HSCG since 2014. Gates was elected to the Board of Directors for a two year term in 2018.
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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)