Miele USA is proud to announce that its Chief Product Safety Engineer and Regulatory Affairs Officer, Steve Polinski, has been named First Vice Chair of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) Board of Directors. With more than two decades of experience at Miele USA and as a member of AHAM, Polinski brings his expertise in regulatory compliance, safety standards development and strategic advocacy to this leadership position.
Above: The 2026 AHAM Board of Directors. Steve Polinski is pictured front row, second from left.
“I’m honored to be appointed First Vice Chair of AHAM, an organization that has been instrumental in growing the appliance industry. In this role, I look forward to championing standards and regulations that are technically sound, fair to manufacturers, and meaningful for consumers,” said Steve Polinski, Chief Product Safety Engineer and Regulatory Affairs Officer, Miele Inc.
Throughout his career at Miele and as a key member of AHAM, Polinski has shaped industry standards and regulatory policy, including the development of performance standards that promote safety and sustainability. A respected leader in government relations, he has engaged with both federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy, demonstrating his ability to advocate for appliance manufacturers while upholding rigorous standards for consumers.
Polinski has played a strategic role in advancing AHAM’s mission through active participation in ANSI/AHAM standards development. He was instrumental in supporting AHAM’s acquisition of the Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturers Association, expanding the organization’s scope and influence, going on to serve as Chairman of the Floor Care Division and the Floor Care Division Government Relations Council. Ahead of his appointment to First Vice Chair, he has also served as AHAM Treasurer and as a member of its Executive Committee.
Polinski first joined Miele in September 2001 as a Regulatory Affairs Engineer, drawn to the brand’s commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and its unique culture as a family-owned business. Today, Polinski is based in the brand’s US headquarters in Princeton, NJ, serving as the organization’s Chief Product Safety Engineer and Regulatory Affairs Officer. In his current role, he supports the brand’s business units and central functions in bringing high-quality, reliable products to market that meet these expectations.
Looking ahead, Polinski aims to help the industry navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape in a way that enables fair competition and fosters responsible innovation that improves consumers’ everyday lives.
