Each attendee will receive a small gift bag.
About our Guest Speakers
Ronie Schmelz
Partner, K&L Gates
Ronie spent the first 25 years of her career at an international law firm, defending clients in complex litigation, including consumer class actions and disputes involving reinsurance, general commercial, real estate, and healthcare-related matters. During the second half of her career, she has committed herself to advising clients on litigation-avoidance strategies so they can confidently focus on building and operating their businesses in a manner that reduces the risk of regulatory oversight or consumer challenges. These strategies include implementing best practices for complying with regulations and standards enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), other federal and state regulatory agencies, as well as the National Advertising Division (NAD), and ways to reduce exposure to consumer class actions. Ronie advises clients on a myriad of topics – including the implementation of recall procedures and responding to FDA Warning Letters, Notices of Action, and MedWatch Adverse Event Reports – and she defends clients in nationwide consumer class actions.
Ronie has deep industry knowledge and extensive experience advising clients in the consumer product industry, particularly those that manufacture cosmetics, skin and hair care products, dietary supplements, and household goods. Along with her experienced team of K&L Gates attorneys, Ronie counsels companies on compliance with the Federal Packaging and Labeling Act, California Proposition 65, the marketing of CBD and hemp products under the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (the Farm Bill), and other federal and state consumer protection, advertising, and unfair business practices laws. Ronie and her team also draft and negotiate vendor and corporate agreements and manage domestic and international intellectual property rights, helping clients achieve good business hygiene by ensuring that proper contracts and IP protections are in place.
A leader in the cosmetics industry, Ronie serves on the Board of the Independent Beauty Association (IBA) and as legal counsel to the executive board of Beauty Industry West (BIW). She also frequently speaks at industry events, including Cosmoprof North America and Bologna, Natural Products Association (NPA), California and New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists Suppliers’ Day, and American Conference Institute. She has taught a course on Advertising Law at Loyola Marymount University Law School, UCLA Extension, and the Fashion Institute of Design & Management (FIDM). Ronie also provides added value to client relationships by conducting educational in-house regulatory training sessions.
Allison Kent-Gunn
Packaging Consultant
With over 7 years of experience in packaging, Allison Kent-Gunn has collaborated with numerous beauty brands from indie to international to bring their packaging plans from ideation to final production. While currently working as a Sales Director, Allison’s passion for beauty packaging and sustainability extends well beyond her 9 to 5 duties. In addition to her full-time sales director job, she teaches a college level cosmetic packaging class at the Fashion
Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, offers independent consulting to brands needing professional guidance in navigating the world of packaging, and leverages her
Instagram presence to help educate consumers and brands alike learn the nuances of sustainable packaging. Allison also serves as a member of the Independent Beauty Association’s (IBA) Supply Chain and Sustainability Committee.
About our Industry Sponsor
Access Ingredients
Based in Arcadia, California, Access Ingredients supplies a diverse range of specialty materials used in skin and hair care applications. The company prides itself on providing not only the highest quality raw materials but also maintaining an in-house R&D application lab to respect and fulfill the needs of customers. With a bi-coastal capability and sales and support structure across North America, Access Ingredients ensures a high level of customer service, innovation, and responsiveness.
Access Ingredients focuses on developing new products and services that enhance efficiency and reduce costs for customers. The company also specializes in Korean fermentation technology ingredients. Its goal is to exhibit the highest standards of integrity, ensuring that the products customers receive will satisfy their budgetary plans and exceed their expectations. Access Ingredients develops and cultivates strong relationships with suppliers to pass on significant value and savings to customers.
