The only international non-profit trade association promoting the benefits of handcrafted soaps and giving a voice to the handcrafted soapmaker.

Board of Directors

Members of the Board of Directors of the Handcrafted Soapmakers 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 HSMG 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 HSMG and the Handcrafted Soapmaking Industry through their selfless service to and for the HSMG.

Leigh O'Donnell, President

Leigh is the owner of Adirondack Soapworks located in Wilton, NY and has been a member of the Guild since January 2004. She was first appointed to the Board of Directors in November 2005. Leigh served as the Chairman of the Conference Committee for the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Conferences. In May, 2008, Leigh was re-elected to serve an additional two-year term, in 2009 was elected as President, to serve from 2009 - 2011 and in 2011 was re-elected to serve as President from 2011 - 2013. Contact: President@Soapguild.org

Sr. Cathleen Timberlake
Vice-President

Cathleen Timberlake is the creator of Monastery Scents, Handcrafted Soap located in Clyde MO which she manages for the Community of Benedictine Sisters of which she is a member. Cathleen has been a member of the Soap Guild since 2002 and was elected to the Board in 2008 for a two year term. She was re-elected in 2010 for an additional two year term. Contact: CathleenT@Soapguild.org

Feleciai Favroth
Treasurer

Feleciai has been a member of the HSMG since February 2008 and served on the 2009 Conference Committee, and other committees. She was elected in 2009 to serve a two-year term (2009-2011). Feleciai is currently serving as the Conference Committee Chair. In 2011 she was re-elected to serve an additional two year term from 2011 - 2013.
Contact: FeleciaiF@soapguild.org

Barb De Los Santos
Secretary

Barb De Los Santos is the owner of \"Barb's Place\" in Adrian, Michigan. She has been an HSMG member since 2006. She was on Conference Ground Crew in 2009, Soapers Showcase Coordinator for the 2010 Annual Conference. Barb was elected to the Board in 2010 to serve for 2 years, ending in June 2012.
Contact: BarbD@soapguild.org

Beth Byrne
Member

Beth Byrne, owner of Soap and Garden, in Rochester, NY, has been a member of the Guild since 2009. She served as a member of the Public Relations Committee in 2010, and was subsequently appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors through 2011. Beth was elected in 2011 to serve a two year term from 2011 - 2013.
Contact: BethB@Soapguild.org

Donna Pixton-Hacker
Member

Donna Pixton-Hacker is the owner of Chamomile Cottage Bath, Spa, & Body Care featuring Aromatherapy and Vegan handmade body care products. She has been a member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild since January, 2008. She served on the Programs and Services Committee for several years and was Ground Crew for the 2009 Conference. Donna was elected to the Board in 2010, to serve a two-year term ending June 2012. Contact: DonnaP@Soapguild.org

Julie Koenig
Member

Julie is the owner of Kreative Kraftwerks near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and has been a member of the HSMG since 2008. She attended her first HSMG conference in Palm Springs in 2009, was on the 2010 Conference Ground Crew in Denver and served as an Assistant Coordinator at the 2011 Conference in Miami. Julie was elected to the Board of Directors in 2011, to serve a two year term ending in 2013.
Contact: JulieK@Soapguild.org

Past Board Members

The following people have served on the Board of Directors of the HSMG. Their dedication, participation and contribution has been greatly appreciated. They are sincerely thanked for they have done to further the objectives and goals of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild.

	Maria Gelnett Maria is the owner of AngelicGlow Handcrafted Soaps in the Greater Binghamton, NY area. She was appointed to the Board in July 2008 and was elected in 2009 for another two-year term (2009 - 2011). As a Board Member she has served as of several different committees and as Vice President. Maria was awarded Volunteer of the year at the 2009 Conference.
	Delores Harris Delores Harris is owner of Daisy May Natural Soap located in Brooklyn NY. Delores was appointed to the board in October 2009 to fill a vacated seat. She resigned due to personal reasons in October, 2010.
	Elaine Koronich Elaine is owner of Exquisite Soaps in Novelty, Ohio and has been a member of the HSMG since 1998. She served on the Certification Committee and was appointed to the Board of Directors in December, 2007. Elaine was elected by the membership in May 2008 for a 2 year term ending in June, 2010. During her tenure on the Board, Elaine served as the Chair of the Certification Committee and oversaw the successful implementation of the full HSMG Certification Program.
	Gillian De Conto Gillian DeConto is the owner of Little Bitty Soap Company located in British Columbia, Canada and has been a member of the HSMG since July, 2007. Gillian was appointed to the Board to fill the seat vacated when Leigh O'Donnell was elected President in 2009. Gillian completed the term, which ended in June 2010. During her time on the Board she served as the Chairperson of the Membership Committee.
	Deb Scanlan Deb was elected in 2009 to serve a two-year term (2009-2011) but had to resign due to personal and physical issues in October, 2009.
	Marie Gale, Past President Marie is the owner of Chandler's Soaps in Broadbent, Oregon and author of Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English. She has been a member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild since March, 1999. As a Board Member elect, she took over as Webmaster in Feb 2003 redesigning and updating the HSMG websiteand has continued in that capacity. She served as a Board Member 2003-2004 term and as President 2004-2009. Marie continues to fill the roll of Webmaster and volunteers on various committees.
	La Shonda Tyree La Shonda is the owner of Nyah in Paterson, New Jersey and has been a member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild since March, 2001. LaShonda served on the Board of Directors 2004 - 2009. She continues to volunteer on various committees.
	Denaige Shanks Denaige is the owner of Bubble Hut and bases her business near Edmonton, Alberta. Deb was elected to the Nominating committee in 2008 and served there briefly before serving on the board to fill a vacated seat through the end of the 2009 term.
	Pam Lyons Pam served as the Attendee Coordinator for the 2007 Annual Conference and was also a member of the Nominating Committee in 2006-2007. She was elected to the Board in 2007 for a two year term. She resigned from the board in October 2008 due to personal reasons.
	Nadine Laurent Nadine is the co-owner of Sassafras in Pinole, California. She was elected to the Board of Directors in May 2007. In July 2008 she resigned to take care of personal issues. During her tenure on the board she served as Secretary and as Chairman of the Membership Committee.
	Jackie Thompson Jackie works with her daughter, Gaily, creating Gaily Rebecca Soaps and has been a member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild since December, 2000. As a member, she served on the Bylaws Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Conference Committee. Jackie came on the Board in June 2004 and served as Chair of the Policy, Procedures and Bylaws Committee. Due to family matters that required her attention, Jackie resigned from the Board of Directors in December, 2007, but she has continued to serve on the Policies, Procedures and Bylaws Committee.
	Robert Kishtok, Member Bob is the owner of 6harmony.com located in Pennsylvania. He was on the board 2006 - 2008, during which time he served in various capacities on the Conference Committee and as chair of the Marketing Committee.
	Judy Green Judy was elected to the Board July 2005 and served until July 2007. During that time she served as Secretary and as chair of the Membership Committee.
	Rosann Drielsma Rosann owns Seaside Garden Soaps. She was appointed to the Board of Directors to fill the spot vacated by the resignation of Cindy Chandler. During her brief tenure she served as the Chair of the Membership Committee.
	Linda Stevens Linda is the owner of The Upland Soap Factory and has been a member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild since May, 1999. As a member she frequently contributed to The Handcrafted Soapmaker, Journal of the Soap Guild, and presented on large batch soap production at several annual conferences. She served on the Board of Directors from March 2003 until July 2006. During that time she served as Treasurer for two years.
	Cindy Chandler Cindy is the owner of Smooth ScentSations in Idaho Falls, ID. She was elected to the Board July 2005 for a two year term and served as Secretary and as Chairman of the Member Services Committee. In September, 2006 she resigned for personal reasons.
	Nancy Underwood Nancy was elected to the Board in March 2004 for a two-year term. During the 2004-2005 year she served as Vice-President as such was the Chairperson of the 2005 Conference Committee. During that time she also served as Chairperson of the Member Services Committee. Nancy resigned from the Board in October 2005 due to personal reasons.