Officer Profiles

Leslie Johnston – President (New Jersey – New York Costumers’ Guild) is the Director of Digital Preservation at the U.S. National Archives. (NARA). Leslie has been costuming since the 1970s, making both fantasy and historical competition and hall costumes. She has won many awards at many masquerades over the years, including at Balticon, BayCon, Costume-Con, Westercon, and Worldcon. She loves to learn new techniques with every costume she builds, and particularly enjoys working with unusual materials. She is the Webmaster of the ICG Pat and Peggy Kennedy Memorial Archives, and the 2022 recipient of the ICG Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nora Mai – Vice President (St. Louis Costumers’ Guild) has previously served as ICG Vice President and ICG President. She was the founding President of the St. Louis Costumers Guild and has held SLCG offices for over 30 years. She has been costuming for over five decades with experience in Historical and SF&F, and mostly creates original designs. She and her husband Bruce received the ICG Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. She currently works as the primary photo archivist for the ICG Archives.

Jeanine Swick – Treasurer (Silicon Web Costumers’ Guild) is ICG Treasurer and former SiW Secretary. Her grandmothers and mother taught her to make clothes for dolls and school at an early age. In Home-Ec, she made 3 piece suits while others figured out 3 piece patterns. She costumed in high school for theater, and later for her own teens. Her work is “period inspired” rather than historically accurate, incorporating her own creativity. She sells at regional renfaires, cons, SCA, and belly dance events. Visit Designs by J. Jeanine is the 2024 recipient of the ICG Lifetime Achievement Award.

Karen Heim – Corresponding and Recording Secretary (Saint Louis Costumers’ Guild) has previously served as Corresponding Secretary, so is returning to a role that although she knows it, it has evolved considerably over the years. She started making her own clothes at age 10, then paired her knowledge with her love of history as a member of the SCA for over 10 years. Looking to expand her knowledge, she started making costumes for science fiction conventions and eventually as part of the ICG. She has won masquerade awards at both the regional and international level, and thinks that after over 50 years sewing she is starting to get the hang of it.