Michael Crowell and Helen Sullivan were inducted into the Flexible Polyurethane Foam Hall of Fame at the spring Polyurethane Foam Association meeting, May 20-22, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Crowell and Sullivan were honored for their work with the CertiPUR-US foam certification program, which has transformed the flexible polyurethane foam, bedding and furniture industries and significantly contributed to safer and more sustainable homes across America, according to a news release.
Sullivan is the first woman inducted into the hall of fame, marking a historic milestone for the industry.
“Sullivan and Crowell’s leadership of the now highly recognized and respected CertiPUR-US program has had a positive and lasting impact on the polyurethane foam industry globally,” said Russ Batson, executive director of the PFA, which organizes the hall of fame. “The program is a powerful reflection of our industry’s safety, health and environmental stewardship.”
Crowell served as the CertiPUR-US program’s executive director for the past 10 years. His commitment to maintaining the program’s rigorous standards as a dynamic document, continuously updated to reflect new safety and environmental regulations, has ensured its ongoing relevance, the release said. He was honored with the organization’s Outstanding Leadership Award and retired as executive director at the end of 2024.
Crowell’s career includes more than 40 years of senior management experience in the flexible polyurethane foam industry, spanning technical, manufacturing, sales and marketing positions. Before taking the helm at the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, the nonprofit that administers the CertiPUR-US program, he served as vice president of marketing and sales for Flexible Foam Products. He previously was vice president of automotive sales for Foamex International (now known as FXI).
Sullivan’s connection with polyurethanes began in 1983 as an advertising and public relations agency account manager for the International Sleep Products Association’s Better Sleep Council. During her decade-long tenure, she was influential in reshaping consumer behavior, shortening the mattress replacement cycle and helping to establish a market for ultra-premium bedding, according to the release. Her creation of the now-iconic “May Is Better Sleep Month” campaign significantly boosted mattress sales and increased the use of polyurethane foam. The program earned Sullivan two of her three Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil awards.
In 1995, Sullivan headed a PFA-led marketing initiative aimed at raising awareness of the benefits of flexible polyurethane foam. She later served as communications counsel for the PFA, where she worked with association leadership on complex issues such as fire prevention, crisis communications and flame-retardant policies.
Her most enduring contribution to the polyurethane foam industry came through her work with the CertiPUR-US program. As brand manager, communications strategist and continuous improvement officer, she helped grow the program from its inception into a globally recognized standard for foam safety and performance, the release said.
Sullivan crafted the CertiPUR-US program’s memorable tagline — “foams that feel good and you can feel good about” — and developed its distinctive branding and promotional strategies. She also played a key role in designing the supply-chain record-keeping systems that underpin the program’s credibility.
More than 100 foam producers worldwide supply certified foam through the program to more than 1,000 companies and brands, covering a significant share of foam used in the U.S. bedding and upholstered furniture industries.
The Flexible Polyurethane Foam Hall of Fame recognizes individuals and companies who have significantly contributed to the growth and betterment of the North American flexible polyurethane foam industry. Awardees are nominated by their peers and elected by the PFA awards committee.
