American Cleaning Institute Hires New VP, Gov’t Affairs

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) said that Dennis Griesing would retire from his position as VP of government affairs. Griesing spent 22 years as the Washington-based organization’s top lobbyist. He will be succeeded by Senior Director of Government Affairs Douglas Troutman, who will become VP and counsel, government affairs as of Jan. 30.

“The cleaning products industry has never had a more effective legislative and regulatory advocate than Dennis Griesing,” said ACI President and CEO Ernie Rosenberg. “With great success, he shared ACI’s policy positions with members of Congress, executive branch officials, state legislators and regulators.”

Of Troutman, Rosenberg said: “He brings to the table years of experience on Capitol Hill and in the trade association sector. Doug will continue to be a very knowledgeable and resourceful advocate for the cleaning products industry in the years ahead.”

When he joined ACI -- at that time the Soap and Detergent Association -- in January 1990, Griesing already had a dozen years of professional government relations experience at the federal, state and local levels. During his time at the association, he worked on numerous issues for the cleaning product supply chain, among them reform of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), phosphate defense, packaging, advertising, eco-labeling, and environmentally preferable procurement.

An attorney admitted to practice in New Jersey, Troutman joined ACI in 2007 as director of government affairs, coming from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Inc.’s Washington office, where he was senior manager, legislative affairs. He was previously senior manager, government relations, at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association in Arlington, Va. Troutman was a legislative aide to Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter from 1992 to 1996, later worked as associate VP at Newmyer Associates in Arlington and was a law clerk in the Delaware County, Pa., District Attorney’s Office.

Jacob Cassady, who has held the role of manager of government affairs since 2010, rounds out the ACI Government Affairs team.