UK alums lead PPE testing projects from ‘head to toe’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 18, 2026) — University of Kentucky alums Stacy Klausing and Suzie Dabbain are leading projects and participating in technical committees at ArcWear, a division of Kinectrics, helping to oversee the personal protective equipment (PPE) quality control standards and testing services for their clients.

Graduates of  Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles (MAT) at the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE), Klausing and Dabbain work in teams with expertise in textiles, engineering, flash fire and electrical arc testing, ensuring the highest level of PPE safety and protection for their customers.

Dabbain, a junior project manager and quality specialist, assists in leading textile and PPE projects, connecting and consulting with clients to provide guidance on technical specifications and tailored PPE testing programs.

For Dabbain, the primary PPE focus is education and safety from top to bottom.

“We do head-to-toe testing, which includes helmets, gloves, right down to the boots you are wearing,” Dabbain said. “What many probably don’t realize is the firefighter turnout gear or the clothes an electrician is wearing must meet rigorous performance standards. We are the behind-the-scenes team helping manufacturers understand these standards and why their products perform the way they do, which helps ensure that workers are protected and will be returning home to their loved ones safely at the end of each day.”

Klausing, senior project manager, assists Kinectrics’ global client base in creating effective and strategic PPE test plans to help them achieve conformity. This includes business development, technical support, consulting, quality assurance and expanding the arc flash testing services through testing, procurement, compliance and training.

She works with global clients in various markets to recommend the appropriate PPE testing services.

“I’m working with clients to help get their PPE tested, performing as expected and into the market,” Klausing said. “We perform research and development to help manufacturers understand what users want and how innovative products perform when tested. Workers with flame and electric arc hazards have important roles. The work we do here is all performed with the end goal of keeping these workers safe and comfortable and getting them back home to their families safely.”

UK Textile Testing Lab

As UK graduate students, both Klausing and Dabbain worked in the Textile Testing Lab, housed in the Department of Retailing and Tourism Management at Martin-Gatton CAFE.

Under the direction of UK professor and consultant for textiles and textile care Elizabeth Easter, Ph.D., who launched the Textiles Testing Lab in 1988, the lab is a hub for the textile and apparel industry on campus, providing assistance in the development, evaluation and performance of new or existing products.

The lab also provides funding for graduate research assistants and the opportunity for students to conduct thesis research projects within the industry, often partnered with industry professionals, and gain experience in solving real-world problems.

Under Easter, Klausing and Dabbain completed their thesis work in firefighter turnout gear and evaluating the performance of reusable Level 2 isolation gowns, primarily worn to protect healthcare workers.

“Having both Stacy and Suzie as MAT students in the lab and now seeing what they are doing to improve communities and keep people safe at ArcWear, a division of Kinectrics, is truly inspirational,” Easter said. “There’s so much you can do with a MAT degree from the University of Kentucky, and Stacy and Suzie are great examples of alums who are doing just that.”

UK and Kentucky proud

For Klausing, the company being located in Louisville and serving a global client base is exciting, as it offers growth opportunities for more Kentuckians and future graduates.

“We are so thrilled to improve communities and keep people safe, and we are really proud to be right here in Kentucky,” Klausing said. “Our work is a different and unique way to contribute to our communities. We hope that with more knowledge and exposure of what we do, our industry and innovation will continue to grow.”

For students considering the MAT program at Martin-Gatton CAFE, Dabbain offers some advice.

“I’m proud to be an alum,” Dabbain said. “What I really valued about the MAT program at the University of Kentucky was the range of opportunities it offered — from learning about buying and merchandising, to getting hands-on experience in the Textile Testing Lab. Be curious, because this program is about much more than just fashion.”

Visit the Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles program at Martin-Gatton CAFE to learn more about the academic programs, resources and research opportunities.