Hello! What’s new?
If you were to ask those of us at the International Sleep Products Association, we would answer, “Quite a lot, actually.”
Let’s start with the big news. Hopefully, by now, you will have heard the news that Alison Keane will be the new leader for ISPA and the Mattress Recycling Council. Some of you may have met her at ISPA EXPO in March in Columbus, Ohio. She sat on a panel with our current president, Ryan Trainer, along with Yohai Baisburd and Neal Cohen, to talk about government action and policies that could affect the mattress industry. Her knowledge of the packaging industry was impressive, and I was thrilled to learn she and Trainer worked closely together when ISPA created MRC. Her expertise will be a boon for ISPA, MRC and the sleep products industry, in general. Keane won’t officially start until later this summer, but I know we’re all looking forward to getting to know her better in the months ahead as Trainer transitions into retirement.
In addition to naming a new president, ISPA also has new officers on its board of trustees. Laurie Tokarz of Restonic Mattress Co. is the new chair of the board and only the third woman to hold that position. I’m excited to see two women in ISPA leadership roles in the coming year. Although the mattress industry has quite a few wonderful male leaders, I think it’s always beneficial when different perspectives are present in all roles.
On the publication staff side, I am so happy to introduce you to our new associate editor, Burt Dellinger. He has spent years working as a copywriter, but he also has quite a bit of magazine experience. Dellinger spent three years as editor in chief for Roam, a travel, tourism and lifestyle magazine covering western North Carolina, and also was the sole writer for HealthFirst, a medical magazine published by Catawba Valley Health System. He’s not a stranger to the mattress industry, either. He has more than a decade of experience writing ads for HSM and, fun fact, worked with foam at Hickory Springs when he was in high school and college.
As an introduction, I asked him to answer our Nightcap questions. I know you will enjoy meeting him at the Las Vegas Market later this month.
What’s new with you? Are you bringing something exciting to share at the market? Have you changed roles? We’d love to hear from you. Email me at [email protected].
