Socma appoints Jenn Klein as new president to strengthen North American chemical industry advocacy

The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) has appointed Jenn Klein as its incoming president and chief executive officer, a move the association says will steer its advocacy and member services as the specialty and batch chemical sector faces regulatory and supply‑chain pressures. According to the announcement, Klein will take up the post on 12 January 2026 following a national search.

SOCMA’s board chair, Mara Gliozzi, described Klein as “the right leader for SOCMA at the right time” and praised her as a “visionary, collaborative leader with a deep understanding of our industry.” The organization framed the hire as strategic, emphasizing Klein’s track record in building partnerships and strengthening member value. Industry observers note the appointment comes as trade groups intensify efforts to secure a predictable regulatory environment for chemical manufacturers.

Klein joins SOCMA from the Ohio Chemistry Technology Council (OCTC), where she has served as president since August 2013. Under her leadership, OCTC recorded significant membership and asset growth; the association says membership rose by 85% and organizational assets increased by 71% during her tenure. The announcement highlights her work modernizing governance, tightening financial controls, and building teams focused on advocacy, communications, events and member services.

Her policy and government‑relations background spans roles at Chesapeake Energy, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, plus earlier legislative posts in the Ohio Senate and New York State Assembly. SOCMA and others point to that combination of industry and regulatory experience as aligning with its priority to keep North America a global standard for safe, innovative chemical manufacturing. Klein herself said she will “champion those priorities and ensure that North America remains the global standard for safe, innovative, and reliable chemical manufacturing.”

The appointment also reinforces pre‑existing ties between SOCMA and regional chemistry bodies. OCTC has previously partnered with SOCMA to promote operator training and a stronger safety culture, expanding access to SOCMA’s ChemOps training tools for facilities in Ohio. That collaboration suggests continuity in workforce development and safety initiatives as Klein moves to lead SOCMA at a continental level.

Klein’s public interventions on energy and infrastructure show a consistent advocacy stance in favour of reliable feedstocks and transport for chemical production. Testimony and filings she provided to federal regulators have emphasized the importance of natural‑gas supply and pipeline projects to Ohio’s chemical competitiveness, positions that mirror SOCMA’s broader industry priorities around energy security and supply‑chain resilience.

As chief executive, Klein will be expected to translate state‑level gains at OCTC into value for SOCMA’s North American membership, balancing regulatory engagement with member services and training programmes. SOCMA framed the hire as aimed at delivering predictable regulation and stronger policymaker support for specialty and batch manufacturers; Klein’s track record at OCTC will be measured against those expectations once she assumes the role in January