With two recent major product launches, Industrial Scientific Vice President of Marketing Tom Henson stays busy. But his role and that of the rest of his team is critical to their vision. BIC Magazine recently sat down with Henson to learn more about their motivation.
Q: What led to your position at Industrial Scientific?
A: I joined Industrial Scientific in 2010. I had been working for a company that provided technology and service solutions to the clinical trial industry and wanted to stay focused on health and safety. Industrial Scientific was looking to increase its focus on product management and marketing. We've built a strong team that spends a lot of time in the field with customers to better understand their pains and needs around gas detection and safety in general. We've created and delivered on an aggressive new product roadmap, with more on the way. We have continued to add sales support and marketing functions as the company has grown.
Q: What is the biggest news at Industrial Scientific right now?
A: We've introduced two new major products: the Ventis⢠Pro Series portable gas monitor and Radius⢠BZ1 Area Monitor. Both include easy-to-use features that let workers focus on the job at hand as opposed to being experts on gas levels and instrument maintenance. Along with our new wireless technologies, these products represent a new platform for increased worker safety and productivity. We also launched the iAssign⢠Beacon, which uses Bluetooth technology to identify workers and locations in cases of emergency and to manage restricted access points. We are in the process of rolling out more new products that provide worker safety solutions beyond traditional gas detection.
Q: What keeps you motivated?
A: All of us at Industrial Scientific are motivated by the thought that every day someone's spouse, parent, child, relative or friend will not make it home to them due to a workplace accident. Our vision is to eliminate death on the job by 2050. Every role is an important one, given that our products are relied on to protect hundreds of thousands of workers every day.
Q: Are you looking to grow in new markets or expand in current ones?
A: Both. We are always looking for ways to creatively reach new customers and deliver products with unique features that make our customers' lives easier when it comes to gas detection and safety. We are growing our rental business and specifically reaching out to those in the oil and gas business who need gas detection equipment for short-term use during turnarounds, shutdowns and outages.
We are also pursuing ways to leverage additional sensors, connectivity and data to predict and prevent threats to the health and safety of workers. With today's connected workplace and the "Internet of Things" framework moving into heavy industrial applications, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring the technologies we use in everyday life to the workplace to keep workers safer and more productive.
Q: How do you maintain a good work/home life balance?
A: The balance between the demands of work and home life is constantly changing. There are times when critical work projects will take more of your time and focus, and times when important family matters have to take priority. It isn't "either/ or"; it is "both." Succeeding in only one is not success. You have to constantly make the right priority decisions, with your career being one of the priorities in your life, but not the only priority.
For more information, visit www.indsci.com or call (800) 338-3287.
