OrthoLite Founder, CEO Glenn Barrett Accepts Honor of Induction into 2024 Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame

May 28, 2024

Barrett recognized by the National Sporting Goods Association for his significant contributions to the sporting goods footwear industry through development of open-cell PU foam

AMHERST, Mass. (May 28, 2024)/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – OrthoLite® founder and CEO, Glenn Barrett, was formally inducted into the 2024 Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) during a ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona on May 21, 2024. Barrett was recognized by the NSGA for the significant impact OrthoLite’s open-cell PU foam insole solutions have made not only to footwear, but also to the sporting goods industry. OrthoLite is the world leader in branded footwear component technologies.

Barrett revolutionized the footwear segment of the sporting goods industry from the inside out. While most public attention is paid to the outer style of footwear, OrthoLite, which Barrett founded in 1997, focused on the inside with an emphasis on the importance of comfort and performance.

This open-cell PU foam was the ideal technology to solve the problems occurring inside the shoe, offering a solution that was not only more comfortable, but it also provided a cooler, drier, and healthier interior environment inside of the footwear. This product also proved to be easier on the planet by using 5% recycled outsole rubber waste material in the mix.

Today OrthoLite partners with more than 550 of the world’s leading footwear brands who trust OrthoLite to elevate the comfort, performance and sustainability of their footwear.

“I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition alongside an admirable group of my industry peers,” said Glenn Barrett, founder and CEO of OrthoLite. “I’m incredibly proud of what this Hall of Fame honor says about OrthoLite’s product and the team behind that product. Together, we created an entirely new category of materials to go inside of shoes. We identified a need and provided a solution that’s now universally accepted as a comfort and performance enhancement for all categories of footwear.”

Barrett joins his fellow class of 2024 inductees: Cathy Pryor (Hibbett Sports), Karsten Solheim (PING Golf) and Mike Thompson (Rawlings). The foursome will join more than 180 retailers, team dealers, manufacturers and industry influencers who have been honored with induction into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame since it was established by the National Sporting Goods Association in 1955. The selections of Barrett, Pryor, Solheim and Thompson were made by the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee at its annual meeting in May 2023.

OrthoLite has provided athletes with another tool they need to succeed and OrthoLite’s products can be found in more than 600 million pairs of footwear a year. Because OrthoLite is U.S.-owned and operated and has production facilities in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Spain, India and Brazil, it can work alongside its brand partners wherever they manufacture shoes.

For additional information on OrthoLite and Cirql, please visit ortholite.com.

About OrthoLite®
OrthoLite is the world’s leading supplier of open-cell foam technology, and the innovator and creator of Cirql™, the sustainable materials solutions provider that provides footwear brands and their factory partners with the most sustainable, circular choice in materials. OrthoLite’s innovative footwear solutions are available to brands that share a vision for the future of sustainable footwear. OrthoLite is found in more than 550 footwear brands across all categories of footwear. The company also has a long-standing history of meaningful partnerships and sponsorships that demonstrate a dedicated commitment to supporting its customers, consumers, brand partners and the footwear industry. OrthoLite is the Official Insole sponsor of the New York Yankees, supporter of The Conservation Alliance, The European Outdoor Conservation Association, and is a founding supporter of the Two Ten Foundation. Stay up to date with company news by visiting OrthoLite.com and following OrthoLite on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. To learn more about the benefits of OrthoLite, visit www.ortholite.com.

About the National Sporting Goods Association

Since 1929, the National Sporting Goods Association has been the leading voice and go-to resource for sporting goods retailers and dealers. NSGA helps the industry grow the business through research, advocacy and networking. For more information about membership or NSGA’s products and services, please visit nsga.org.

About the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame

NSGA created the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame in 1955 to honor sporting goods pioneers, innovators and leaders, while recognizing and encouraging continued excellence in the industry. Since the first induction in 1956, 181 men and women have been inducted.