Personnel Updates at American Cleaning Institute

As the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) continues to expand its work on behalf of the US cleaning products industry, the association announces the retirement of two longtime leaders and promotes new hires to carry the torch of leadership.

Merla Zollinger, associate vice president, Meetings, will retire from ACI after eight years of service. Dr. Francis Kruszewski, a senior scientific leader who has served ACI for more than 25 years, will retire on Aug. 31. Both will continue supporting the association during transition periods to ensure continuity for ACI members and programs.

Building the Next Generation of Expertise

Several of ACI’s newest team members are stepping into leadership roles established by longtime colleagues, ensuring continuity for members while bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to the association’s work.

Jiae Kim, CMP, joins ACI as senior director, Meetings, where she will lead the association’s conferences and executive programs—including the ACI Annual Meeting and Industry Convention and Spark Summit—following Zollinger’s retirement. She brings more than a decade of experience managing large-scale association and executive events, most recently at the National Association of Manufacturers.

Dr. Lilian Lam Josephson joined ACI earlier this year as senior director, Public Health, assuming leadership of ACI’s Topical Antiseptics Program and scientific engagement with regulators following Kruszewski’s retirement.

Prior to joining ACI, she served as director of Undergraduate Studies and senior lecturer in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and as principal chemist at Ecolab.

Maggie White joined ACI as senior director, Industry Relations, a newly created position reflecting the association’s growing investment in industry engagement. She leads efforts to strengthen relationships across the cleaning products value chain, monitor emerging industry trends and business priorities, and help ensure ACI’s programs and initiatives remain aligned with the evolving needs of the industry. White brings extensive experience building strategic corporate partnerships, most recently at the National Retail Federation.

Alex Marinelli joined ACI as manager, Environmental Science, expanding the association’s environmental science expertise. He joins ACI from Eurofins, where he worked in analytical chemistry, and brings additional experience in aquatic science that strengthens ACI’s environmental research and technical capabilities.

Jeffrey Aguilar joined ACI as communications coordinator, supporting member communications, media outreach and strategic communications initiatives. He previously worked in communications at the International Monetary Fund, bringing experience in stakeholder engagement and media relations.

Recognizing Decades of Leadership

For decades, Zollinger and Kruszewski helped shape two of ACI’s defining strengths: member engagement through world-class events and scientific credibility rooted in sound science. Their retirements mark the culmination of distinguished careers while reflecting ACI’s commitment to ensuring a seamless transition for members through continued advisory support.

“Organizations grow strongest when they pair deep institutional knowledge with fresh perspectives,” said ACI President & CEO Jennifer Abril. “Merla and Fran have helped build programs and scientific leadership that our members rely on every day. As they begin well-earned retirements, we’re welcoming talented professionals who will help us continue to meet the evolving needs of our members and the cleaning products industry.”

Merla Zollinger

She joined ACI in 2018 as senior director, Convention & Meetings and was later promoted to associate vice president, Meetings. Under her leadership, ACI’s Annual Meeting and Industry Convention grew into a premier business-to-business event for the global cleaning products supply chain. Before joining ACI, Zollinger brought nearly three decades of association meetings experience that helped elevate the organization’s member events.

Beginning Sept. 1, she will move to a part-time role and continue working with ACI’s Meetings Department through the 2027 ACI Convention.

Dr. Francis Kruszewski

He will retire on Aug. 31 after more than 25 years with ACI. Throughout his career, Kruszewski has been a respected scientific leader for the cleaning products industry, guiding ACI’s work on human safety, toxicology and public health while serving as a trusted resource for members, regulators and colleagues. His leadership has helped advance scientific research, support regulatory engagement and strengthen the credibility of the industry’s science, particularly through ACI’s Topical Antiseptics Program.

Kruszewski will continue serving in an advisory role through the end of the year.