Holding a $60 billion slice in the chemical manufacturing pie, the cleaning products industry has always been a mainstay of society, but it rose to unprecedented prominence with the impact of COVID-19. When droves of manufacturers pivoted to the production of disinfectants and hand sanitizers, it became incumbent for industry leaders to set the standards of how things are done. Foremost among these prominent organizations is the American Cleaning Institute, a 95-year-old association that represents the cleaning product supply chain that is currently headed by President and CEO Melissa Hockstad. In this chat with Victoria Meyer, Melissa shares the challenges of being a leader in an essential industry during these pivotal times, including the task of managing teams in a virtual or hybrid setting. She also shares about the association’s efforts around sustainability, digitalization and other trends that affect the chemical industry as a whole.
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