Votel named Vice Chair of International Safety Equipment Association

Tom Votel, President and CEO of Ergodyne, was named Vice Chair of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) at the group’s annual meeting in Arlington, Virginia in November. Votel will lead ISEA alongside the newly appointed chairman of the board, Craig Wallentine, Global Business Development Manager, DuPont Safety & Construction (Retired).

Nate Kogler, Senior Director of Product Management, Bradley Corporation, was elected to the newly created position of ISEA board treasurer. Other industry leaders round out the newly appointed board of trustees, including Steve Blanco, President, Americas Business Segment, MSA; Rodney Taylor, Global Sales and Marketing Manager, Industrial PPE, D3O, LLC; and Ned Hickok, President, OccuNomix International.

Ergodyne was founded in 1983 and Votel became Ergodyne’s president & CEO just 3 years later, beginning a turnaround and rebranding of the company’s prior incarnation. Throughout the years, he has led the firm through a variety of existential threats, helping it evolve into a trusted name in the safety space. Today, Ergodyne, now part of Klein Tools, continues to be a well-respected industry leader, specializing in innovative, well-crafted safety gear; all driving toward the goal of zero injuries.

“Due to visionary leadership, a great staff and member support, ISEA is stronger than ever,” said Votel. “I look forward to continuing to improve and enhance our value to members and the noble goal of advancing standards that ensure worker safety and protection.”

Votel has been a board member of ISEA since 2011, and brings a lifetime of advocacy and experience in industrial safety to the position of vice chair.

About Ergodyne

Since 1983, Ergodyne has pioneered the development of products that Make The Workplace A Betterplace^™. What started with just one product has grown into a line of top flight, battle-tested, Tenacious Work Gear^®; all precision crafted to provide protection, promote prevention and manage the elements for workers on jobsites the world over. The current lineup is extensive and constantly growing: ProFlex^® Hand Protection, ProFlex^® Knee Pads, ProFlex^® Supports, Skullerz^® Head Protection, Skullerz^® Eye Protection, Trex^™ Footwear Accessories, Chill-Its^® Cooling Products, N-Ferno^® Warming Products, GloWear^® Hi-Vis Apparel, Squids^® Lanyards, Arsenal^® Gear and Tool Storage, and SHAX^® Portable Work Shelters.