11.12.19
Richard Sedlak, the American Cleaning Institute’s (ACI) Executive Vice President of Technical & International Affairs, is retiring from ACI as of December 31, 2019 after more than 42 years at the association.
As of January 1, 2020, Dr. James Kim, ACI’s associate vice president, science & regulatory affairs, will lead the Institute’s technical and regulatory department.
“Rich’s vast knowledge, experience and legacy within our industry is virtually unmatched,” said Melissa Hockstad, ACI president & CEO.
“We will miss him as a colleague and friend, and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement. Rich is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will consult with ACI through early 2020 on key projects he was involved with at the association.”
Dr. Kim, who joined ACI in July 2018, “has been a tremendous addition to ACI and has had responsibility for a range of ACI initiatives, such as the toxicology, human safety and efficacy of topical antiseptics, including research, regulatory affairs and outreach,” said Hockstad.
Prior to joining ACI, Dr. Kim was a senior toxicologist at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where he served as a scientific lead on interagency reviews of regulations, regulatory actions and human health risk assessments. He also represented OMB on various interagency task forces and committees, such as the President’s Task Force on Environmental Health and Safety Risks to Children, the Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications Working Group, and the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee.
Sedlak, who joined ACI in 1977, has overseen a broad range of initiatives addressing the environmental fate and human and environmental toxicology of cleaning product chemicals. His experience includes research on the treatability and compatibility of detergent ingredients in municipal and on-site wastewater treatment systems, the fate and effects of residual releases to the environment, assessment of risks posed by product ingredients during and after use, and the shaping of laws, regulations and voluntary initiatives based on state-of-the-art science.
He has also been a leader in coordinating US and international industry input to United Nations and OECD initiatives to develop a harmonized systems for managing chemicals based on best practices. These international initiatives have spanned the development of risk assessments for high volume chemicals, enhanced tools for chemical risk communication, and enhancements to existing chemical management systems.
Mr. Sedlak has a BS in biology and MS in environmental engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
As of January 1, 2020, Dr. James Kim, ACI’s associate vice president, science & regulatory affairs, will lead the Institute’s technical and regulatory department.
“Rich’s vast knowledge, experience and legacy within our industry is virtually unmatched,” said Melissa Hockstad, ACI president & CEO.
“We will miss him as a colleague and friend, and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement. Rich is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will consult with ACI through early 2020 on key projects he was involved with at the association.”
Dr. Kim, who joined ACI in July 2018, “has been a tremendous addition to ACI and has had responsibility for a range of ACI initiatives, such as the toxicology, human safety and efficacy of topical antiseptics, including research, regulatory affairs and outreach,” said Hockstad.
Prior to joining ACI, Dr. Kim was a senior toxicologist at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where he served as a scientific lead on interagency reviews of regulations, regulatory actions and human health risk assessments. He also represented OMB on various interagency task forces and committees, such as the President’s Task Force on Environmental Health and Safety Risks to Children, the Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications Working Group, and the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee.
Sedlak, who joined ACI in 1977, has overseen a broad range of initiatives addressing the environmental fate and human and environmental toxicology of cleaning product chemicals. His experience includes research on the treatability and compatibility of detergent ingredients in municipal and on-site wastewater treatment systems, the fate and effects of residual releases to the environment, assessment of risks posed by product ingredients during and after use, and the shaping of laws, regulations and voluntary initiatives based on state-of-the-art science.
He has also been a leader in coordinating US and international industry input to United Nations and OECD initiatives to develop a harmonized systems for managing chemicals based on best practices. These international initiatives have spanned the development of risk assessments for high volume chemicals, enhanced tools for chemical risk communication, and enhancements to existing chemical management systems.
Mr. Sedlak has a BS in biology and MS in environmental engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
