Rewarding distinguished employees and workers. Reward system. Recognition of successes. Promotion.


The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) announced the promotion of Marie Gargas to Associate Vice President, Regulatory and International Affairs. The Institute also welcomed Leeann Arthur as Senior Director, Sustainability, and Lilian Lam Josephson, Ph.D., as Senior Director, Public Health.

“These leadership additions strengthen ACI’s ability to serve the evolving needs of the cleaning products industry,” says Jennifer Abril, ACI President and CEO. “Marie’s promotion, together with the expertise Leeann and Lilian bring, deepens the capabilities we provide on behalf of the entire cleaning product supply chain.”

Gargas joined ACI in 2024 and previously served as Senior Director, Regulatory and International Affairs. She is responsible for directing strategies on regulatory issues related to human and environmental health and safety. Gargas also oversees research to support the commercial cleaning industry’s science-based initiatives. Additionally, Gargas supports ACI’s membership in the International Network of Cleaning Product Associations (INCPA).

Before joining ACI, Gargas served as Senior Technical Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS).

As Senior Director, Sustainability, Arthur will help implement ACI’s long-term sustainability program strategy and priorities, lead initiatives that drive and support sustainability progress across the industry, and oversee ACI Sustainability Committee workgroups.

Arthur most recently served as a Managing Director with the Deloitte & Touche LLP Sustainability advisory practice. She holds a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University, Washington, a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and a Sustainability Certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.

In her role as Senior Director, Public Health, Josephson will lead ACI’s Topical Antiseptics Program, manage studies assessing product safety and efficacy, facilitate scientific work groups, and serve as scientific liaison to regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Prior to joining ACI, Josephson served as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware, Newark, Del., and a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the City College of New York, New York.