Clearfield, UT- Petzl America, the North American headquarters of verticality equipment and hands-free lighting company Petzl, announces the appointment of Oliver McLeod to the new Petzl Technical Institute Manager position.
In this role, McLeod will oversee operations at the Petzl Technical Institute (PTI). He will be tasked with the development, delivery, and management of technical training programs for partner training organizations (Petzl Technical Partners, or PTPs), independent reps, and end users.
“One of my primary goals as Technical Institute Manager is to ensure that end-users, whether through Petzl America or through our network of Petzl Technical Partners, are as knowledgeable as possible,” said McLeod. “Petzl doesn’t just make gear; we provide solutions for moving through the vertical world. The PTI is all about developing and teaching those solutions."
McLeod comes to Petzl America from Grand Junction, Colorado, where he was the Training and Operations Director for the adventure course design firm Bonsai Design, Inc. There, he developed training programs and risk management systems and consulted with clients regarding operational methods and standards compliance.
At Bonsai, he was the key consultant for the Boy Scouts of America’s massive Jamboree event, overseeing the training, programming development, and operations of 12 canopy tours, 10 challenge courses, and five zip rides across the 10,000-acre facility. “We’re excited to welcome Oliver to the Petzl America team,” said Technical Director Rick Vance. “The addition of his expertise in training program development and management represents an important and exciting step towards making technical solutions an integral part of Petzl America's product offering.”
Previously, McLeod worked with Petzl America to earn Bonsai Design accreditation as a PTP, among the first in North America. The PTP network distributes Petzl technical information and training to the many verticality user groups that Petzl serves, from rock climbers to rope-access technicians, rescue professionals to arborists, adventure park operators to cavers, and more.
The PTP network will also facilitate improved two-way communication, allowing partner-training organizations and end users to more easily communicate with Petzl regarding the products and systems they use on a regular basis. In his new role as Technical Institute Manager, McLeod is tasked with developing and growing the PTP network. In previous years, McLeod has worked with the wall builder Nicros, consulting with clients building climbing walls in their facilities, teaching equipment-management classes, and leading safety clinics.
He has also guided climbing, backpacking, river rafting, and mountain biking tours, and worked on volunteer search-and-rescue teams. He has been a climber since the age of 10, and climbed Half Dome, in Yosemite, by the age of 16. McLeod steps into this new position immediately, building on and refining Petzl America’s existing training program.
He will begin working out of the facilities in Clearfield, Utah, moving to the new Petzl America headquarters and training center in West Valley City, Utah, in spring 2014. About Petzl Petzl America is the North American division of Petzl, headquartered in France.
For over 50 years, Petzl has developed innovative tools and techniques used by those who work and play in the vertical world. Today, the Petzl brand is closely associated with adventure, exploration, rescue, and many notable exploits in the worlds of rock climbing, caving, and alpinism. In the professional market, Petzl is a world leader in work-at-height, fire and rescue, and tactical equipment and techniques.
A family-owned business, Petzl is committed not only to quality and innovation, but also to giving back to the communities that have made us so successful. For more information, visit www.petzl.com.
