Jon Krongaard is currently a member of the IML Executive Committee as well as the Marketing and Sponsorship Coordinator for IML. Jon is also the current Vice President of the Leather Archives and Museum. He moved to Chicago in 1994 from New York City, where he has been a lifelong resident. He lives with his partner of 16 years. He is both a past President and now Emeritus Member of the Chicago Hellfire Club, a member of GMSMA of New York, a former Administrator of The McAdory Fund (Chicago Hellfire's charity assistance fund), Jon was recently re-elected to another 3-year term to the Board of Directors of the Leather Archives and Museum. Jon has led many instructional programs for GMSMA and Chicago Hellfire. He has also judged a variety of leather events, including the first-ever Tri-State Leather Contest and first-ever Mr. Midwest Contest in beautiful Dubuque, IA and Mid-Atlantic Leather in 2000. He is a visible community activist and a passionate public speaker on the merits of preserving the leather community's history. He is delighted to once again be Co-Emcee with his his evil yet oh-so-pretty twin, Ultra!

Karen Ultra Crecelius has officially lost count of how many people she's addressed. As first runner up to Ms World Leather 2004 she has traveled extensively with her boy Michael; talking incessantly to anyone and everyone about the HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials. They estimate they talked to almost half the attendees of Folsom 2004 (one on one; not from a stage). They've traveled coast to coast; and attended many events and runs; presenting at some, speaking at others, and recruiting for the vaccine trials at ALL of them. Karen; like many of the "Middle Aged Guard" (Thanks to Laura Antoniou) found her way to BDSM through the internet. She knew she belonged in the Leather Universe; had known it since early adolescence, getting off on making her boyfriends beg. Lucky for her the people she met early on were real live participants and practitioners; and soon she went out in search of the real live community. She has been a member of St. Louis Leather and Lace; a board member of the same, co- chair of Beat Me in St. Louis, as well as Spanksgiving, co-chair of both Fetish Balls held in St. Louis; a member of PEP St. Louis and FLOG St. Louis. She is a founding member of NLA-I Philadelphia, an Associate Member of The Men of Onyx as well as a member of Mama's Family. She received the Pantheon of Leather President's Choice Award in February of 06. She has presented at both Fetish Balls; several Beat Me's, a few Spanksgivings, numerous PEP meetings, Beyond Vanilla, Rio Grande Leather; Spring Pandemonium, Kansas City Leather University/ Heart of America, IMsL, Dixie Belle, GLLA, Creating Change, Day of Demo and Debauchery in Las Vegas, and has presented at Tribal Fire and Judged at Great Plains Olympus, Mr. Cleveland Leather, Rio Grande Leather and SouthEast Leatherfest. She was also a facilitator at Master's Retreat. She MC'd Spring Pandemonium in ABQ, Ms World Leather in Las Vegas last year, Great Plains Olympus '06, Dixie Belle '05 and '06 and is slated to MC at MLT in Toronto The loves of her life are her boy Michael and her daughter "The MicroDomme". She heads a Leather Family founded on the traditions of Honor and Service; Responsibility and Duty.

Chuck began his leather journey in Chicago in 1988 after a 1st visit to Chicago’s legendary leather bar, Touche on Lincoln Avenue. Soon afterwards, he entered and won the title of Mr. Chicago Leather 1991 and entered IML 1991, placing as a top 10 finalist and had a true leather life changing experience in the process. In 2003, Chuck teamed up with Touche bar owner Chuck Rodocker and producer David Boyer to revive and co-produce a dormant Mr. Chicago Leather contest for 2004. He also co-founded with Thom Dombkowski the Chicago Leather Kennel Club (www.leatherkennel.com), a team of local former, current titleholders and various noted community leather/rubber leaders who provide voluntary support and mentoring to aspiring male and female leather/rubber contestants entering a 1st leather contest event. The club provides additional support to any leather/rubber titleholders headed towards national and international competitions. Additionally, Chuck is also the Director of the Leather Archives and Museum “Road Show” program. Working directly with Rick Storer, his staff and program volunteers who plan, design and staff LA&M exhibits displayed at various gay and heterosexual leather/BDSM/kink events worldwide. Recently, Chuck has served as Emcee of the Mr. Pittsburgh Eagle Leather 2005 contest and judged for Mr. International Rubber 2005 in Chicago. Scheduled in 2006, Chuck is slated to judge Mr. Cell Block Leatherman 2006 contest in February, serve as Head Tallymaster for Mr. Midwest Leather 2006 in April held in Chicago and received a 2006 Pantheon of Leather nomination for the Midwest Region category. A native of Cumberland, Maryland, Chuck currently resides in Chicago and works as an International Purser for a major US airline based in Chicago for the past 23 years.

In addition to being the current International Mister Leather Mike Gerle is also proud to also hold the titles for Mr. Los Angeles Leather 07, and Oil Can Harry’s Mr. Leather 07.

Mike is 42 years old, was born in Nebraska and raised in Wyoming and Idaho. He now calls West Hollywood home where he works as a Management Specialist and City Academy Coordinator for the City of West Hollywood.

His community involvement includes annual fundraisers for a variety of organizations including Aid for AIDS, the Van Ness Recovery House, the West Hollywood Recovery Center and Hot n Dry, the countries largest gathering of sober gay men. Mike is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of crystal meth use and bridging the generation gap in the Leather/BDSM/fetish communities.

Affiliations include the Los Angeles Leather Coalition, Southern California Gay Sports Bikers, LA Frontrunners and The AIDS LifeCyle Ride. As International Mister Leather Mike has been busy traveling to Canada, Europe, and all over the USA.

Mike’s interests include riding his BMW R1150R motorcycle, riding gear, boot blacking, black boots, anything SciFi, two-stepping, German dark rooms, floggers, restraints, jock straps and electricity.

Dave Drees, the current Mr. Midwest Leather 2007, is a true Midwesterner. He grew up and went to college in Iowa, has lived in Wisconsin and most of his adult life in Chicago before moving to Michigan where he currently owns and operates the Kingsley House Bed and Breakfast Inn near the Saugatuck resort of Lake Michigan’s shoreline.

During his title year, Dave has participated in CLAW, held a successful fundraising event for AIDS Partnership Michigan, raising over $2,000, and attended Folsom in San Francisco. You may have also seen Dave representing the Mr. Midwest title in one of the many Pride parade events in Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Lansing.

One of Dave’s biggest achievements of the year is his formation of Clean and Sober Leather, a weekly chat forum for leather men and women dealing with substance abuse issues and choosing to maintain a lifestyle that is both clean and sober within our leather community.

Randy Buikema of Des Moines, IA, earned the title of Mr. Iowa Leather 2007, and proceeded to compete at the International Mr. Leather contest last May in Chicago, IL, where he finished 7th over all out of 52 contestants.

Randy is 48 years old and is a professional musician and conductor. He is the founder and former conductor of the Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus. Randy completed his doctor of Music Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Iowa.

In his free time, Randy spends his time meditating and exploring spiritual avenues. Recently Randy made his debut as stage director for the Threepenny Opera.

Dr. Bruce Karmazin is Mr. Midwest Leather 2006 and was a Top-10 finisher in the 2006 IML Contest. Bruce is the founder and owner of the Gateway City Animal Clinic in St. Louis, Missori. He is a major fundraiser and volunteer sponsor for PAWs which assists pets and their owner. In his title year, Bruce made appearances at CLAW, Folsom, and was a contributor to the St. Louis Gay Pride festivities, and was a Judge in the Mr. Madison Leather 2007 Contest.

Mark Bozif was the 2005 Midwest Pantheon Award and Mr. Missouri Leather 2003. He resides in St. Louis, Missouri, but travels all over the country with work and play. This year, Mark passed on the chair of a group of Leather Men and Women in St. Louis known as "The Committee" whose main objective is S&M education. Mark has taught classes all over the country on the subjects of: S&M 101/102, Bondage, Electiric Play (uni and bi-polar), Fire Play, and Impact Play (tactile, floggers, and whips). He has judged feeder contests for Mr. International Leather, American Brotherhood Weekend, and International Leather Sir/boy. He is a member of the Chicago Hellfire Club, Fetish Life-style Open Group (FLOG), Seattle Men in Leather, St. Louis Dominants Forum, an Honorary Member of Gateway MC - St. Louis, and a voting member of the Leather Archive and Museum.

Mark Bozif was the 2005 Midwest Pantheon Award and Mr. Missouri Leather 2003. He resides in St. Louis, Missouri, but travels all over the country with work and play. This year, Mark passed on the chair of a group of Leather Men and Women in St. Louis known as "The Committee" whose main objective is S&M education. Mark has taught classes all over the country on the subjects of: S&M 101/102, Bondage, Electiric Play (uni and bi-polar), Fire Play, and Impact Play (tactile, floggers, and whips). He has judged feeder contests for Mr. International Leather, American Brotherhood Weekend, and International Leather Sir/boy. He is a member of the Chicago Hellfire Club, Fetish Life-style Open Group (FLOG), Seattle Men in Leather, St. Louis Dominants Forum, an Honorary Member of Gateway MC - St. Louis, and a voting member of the Leather Archive and Museum.