Regulatory Roundtable: Understanding MoCRA's New Cosmetics Regulations

With over 20 years of CPG experience, from Fortune 500 companies to small startups, Akemi’s experience ranges from product development to sourcing and supply chain transformation. Akemi has run chemical procurement at The Clorox Company, formulation and fragrance development at method, and was most recently VP of Product at J.R. Watkins, overseeing development, quality, regulatory compliance, claim support, and third-party manufacturing oversight for hand care, personal care, home care, and OTC remedies. She now heads up the Independent Beauty Association’s (IBA) global supply chain and sustainability programming, supporting small to medium-sized businesses in the beauty and personal care sector. Akemi holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Dan Kolhoff is an attorney with 20 years of experience with consumer product companies, handling international development and regulatory affairs. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his law degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Dan has worked at Herbalife, Nestle USA, Murad, and Guthy-Renker and currently oversees Regulatory Affairs for John Paul Mitchell Systems. The scope of products he has worked on includes cosmetics, OTCs, foods, supplements, medical devices and consumer products.

Don has over 35 years of experience in the Personal Care and Cosmetics business and currently serves as President and CEO of the Independent Beauty Association. His experience has primarily been in Research & Development including formulation, package engineering, safety and toxicology, consumer insights, regulatory and claims development/substantiation. His professional experience has spanned many companies and brands, both large and small, including Procter & Gamble, Cover Girl, Gillette, Jafra Cosmetics, Avon, Method and the Honest Company. He also has experience both domestically as well as internationally including living and working in Japan for two years to help build out P&G’s Asian personal care business. Don has been active in industry organizations having served as Membership Chair and Supply Chain Sustainability Resource Chair for IBA, President of the Board for Beauty Industry West and currently serves on Cradle2Cradle’s Standards Steering Committee.

Kelly Kovack is the CEO and Founder of BeautyMatter, a noted beauty authority, brand advisor and strategist. She began her career in beauty as one of the original executive team members at Bliss, taking on the way women bought beauty as the Managing Director of the Bliss Catalog. This venture fundamentally changed the way beauty products were merchandised, distributed and marketed to consumers leading the acquisition of Bliss by LVMH. As Vice President of Marketing for Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, she was at the forefront of defining the cosmeceutical category. Kelly also founded consultancy group Purpose Built, providing concept to counter solutions and strategic advisement for startups to Fortune 500 brand and everything in between. In addition, she's also built her own brands, most recently award-winning fragrance brand, Odin, which was co-founded in collaboration with the men's fashion brand. Kelly is the “lens” of BeautyMatter providing a fresh voice to the beauty industry with highly curated news and original content.