Former ICT president dies
A former president of the International Council of Tanners, Lisa Howlett, has died. Former colleagues said Ms Howlett had died on November 4 from complications following a recent surgical procedure.
She was a fifth-generation tanner and ran her family company, Auburn Leather, until 2018, when ISA TanTec integrated Auburn into the group.
Auburn Leather was established in Kentucky in 1863, specialising in leathergoods for the horse and buggy market before evolving into a producer of leather laces for footwear and sporting goods. Lisa Howlett continued working after the acquisition to help ISA TanTec continue to offer these products to customers. She decided to retire in 2021.
In 2013, she was elected chair of the Leather Industries of America, one of the component bodies that formed the Leather and Hide Council of America. She was elected as the first woman president of the International Council of Tanners in 2018 and stayed in the role until 2020.
