2015 Convention & Industry Meeting

The 2015 Convention was our largest attended Annual Convention in over 13 years! More than 930 business leaders from 180 different companies and from 24 different countries attended industry’s most effective and efficient forum for networking and business-to-business meetings! The forum connected industry leaders and business leaders from all across the world at special speaker sessions, charity events to benefit Cleaning for a Reason and Clean the World, and international networking at various Convention events. Click on the ACI Convention Schedule to review key events and speaker biographies. Members can also access presentation slides on their ACI Members Only Website account.

There were several speaker sessions throughout Convention week including the annual Global Industry Update, ACI Committee invited speakers, and various distinguished speaker sessions. A special breakfast presentation featuring SC Johnson chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson was held Wednesday; he shared four steps to improve consumer trust. Former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney addressed the three critical priorities he believes will maintain America’s global leadership position at a breakfast presentation on Thursday; and professional speaker and TV commentator Laura Schwartz shared insight on her event planning career while working at the White House for President Clinton at the Women’s Networking Forum and book signing Thursday afternoon. ACI honored sustainability leader Martin Wolf of Seventh Generation, the 2015 recipient of the Elva Walker Spillane Distinguished Service Award at the ACI Annual Business Meeting. To learn more about the award click here. Following the ACI Annual Business Meeting, global futurist and best-selling author Jack Uldrich delivered stimulating perspectives on trendspotting and emerging technologies on genomics and nanotechnology for the chemical industry. The Clean the World ONE Project Hygiene Kit Build two-day event was completed in less than a day! Attendees and member companies participated in teams to build hygiene kits for disadvantaged people; and Mary-Ann Warmerdam of The Clorox Company earned a distribution trip to Guatemala for being the individual that built the highest number of hygiene kits. Firmenich Incorporated was recognized as the company that built the most hygiene kits.

Special Thanks to our Convention Sponsors

Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Amway, Arylessence, Inc., BASF Corporation, Brenntag North America, CDI Global, Celeste Industries Corporation, Church & Dwight Co., Inc., The Clorox Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont Industrial Biosciences, Evonik Corporation, Firmenich Incorporated, FMC Corporation, Givaudan Fragrances Corporation, Huntsman Corporation, IHS Chemical Week, Innospec, Lonza Inc., MonoSol LLC, Novozymes, Oxiteno USA, LLC, PQ Corporation, Procter & Gamble, PSAV, The Ropella Group, Sasol, SC Johnson, Seventh Generation, Shell Chemical LP, Solvay Novecare, Stepan Company, The Sun Products Corporation, Wacker Chemie AG, William Kendrick Company.

Convention Charity Events

The ACI Convention hosted four charity events this year:

The ACI Charity events held during the ACI Convention benefit Cleaning for a Reason, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides free residential cleaning services to women undergoing treatment for cancer so that they may better focus on their families and getting well.

On Wednesday morning, the newly re-instated ACI Annual 5K Fun Run sponsored by P&G Chemicals kicked off at 6 AM! More than 100 attendees registered for this fun event! "Dark and Early" attendees participated as runners or walkers. It was an excellent turn out and show of support; and first and second-place runners and walkers were awarded at the Convention closing dinner reception.

Shell Chemical LP was once again the official sponsor of the 2015 Charity Duck Race which took place Wednesday afternoon. Many participated to watch their ducks and corporate ducks swim down the Lazy River. Participants got to showcase their artistic skills on their ducks which were not limited to drawings and paint – some also included props!

Friday afternoon, the 6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament was an enjoyable sporty competition. Awards were also handed out at the Convention closing event. ACI helped Cleaning for a Reason raised over $30,000, a record-breaking amount!

During our Clean the World ONE Project event at Grande Lakes, attendees collaborated to build hygiene kits for disadvantaged people. Kits include bars of recycled soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a washcloth and an inspirational message. They will be distributed to organizations serving the homeless in Central Florida.