Currently made up of 24 men and women from across the sleep industry, the International Sleep Products Association’s board is here to work for you. In this ongoing series, we’re introducing your board members, their thoughts on today’s industry challenges, and their goals during their board term.
This month, meet Johan Cleyman, CEO, Innofa Group; Jennifer Groom, director of operations, Spring Air; and Sheri McGuire, vice president of advanced technology at Serta Simmons Bedding.
BedTimes: What drew you to serve on the board of ISPA?
Johan Cleyman: I joined the ISPA board because I believe that if you want an organization to improve, you need to be willing to get involved and help drive that change.
At the time, I felt ISPA needed to become more relevant to its core membership and more clearly demonstrate the value it provides to the industry. While ISPA is an international organization, I believe its strength starts with a strong and competitive North American bedding industry.
Rather than standing on the sidelines and questioning the direction of the organization, I wanted to contribute. My goal has been to help ensure ISPA works for its members, represents their interests effectively, and remains relevant as our industry continues to evolve.
Jennifer Groom: I didn’t set out to pursue a board seat—a colleague recommended me, and the more I considered it, the more it made sense. Twenty-eight years in this industry has taken me through production scheduling, purchasing, product development and costing, and now marketing and creative. Few people get to see the business from that many angles, and that full picture is exactly what’s useful in a room making decisions for the whole industry.
Sheri McGuire: I’ve been working within the industry for more than 25 years as both a supplier and mattress manufacturer, so I am passionate about the opportunity to become more involved and engaged in initiatives that directly impact our industry. My early years within the industry were grounded in developing fire-retardant solutions that became key at the onset of CFR 1633. This passion for understanding industry challenges and identifying and developing solutions has kept me engaged and interested in representing SSB on the ISPA board.
BT: What unique perspective or expertise do you bring to this board?
Cleyman: I bring the perspective of a global textile manufacturer that operates directly within one of the mattress industry’s critical supply chains: ticking, fabrics, and covers. Because our business operates across North America and Europe and works with many different types of mattress manufacturers, I see both the opportunities and the pressures affecting our industry from a broad perspective.
I also bring experience in international trade, manufacturing, innovation, and business transformation. In particular, I have been an advocate for strengthening the North American manufacturing platform and addressing regulatory and trade issues that can unnecessarily restrict commerce within the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) region.
I believe the supplier community is an essential part of the mattress industry’s innovation and competitiveness, and I want to make sure that perspective is represented within ISPA.
Groom: What I bring is the ability to sit on either side of the table. I’ve lived the operational reality of getting a mattress made—the scheduling, the sourcing, and the cost pressure—and now I live the brand side, shaping how that product gets in front of customers. Most people in the room bring one focus or the other, while I try to weigh a decision on both fronts—cost to execute and the impact it has on the brand.
McGuire: Throughout my career, I have been heavily engaged with the direct suppliers for the mattress industry, ranging across all materials: textiles, foams, coils, adjustable bases. Combining regulatory changes across these industries with product design has been a key area of interest and focus throughout my career. These include 1633/FR regulatory, component versus mattress product design, sustainability, and mattress recycling initiatives.
BT: What is the biggest challenge facing our industry right now?
Cleyman: I believe one of our biggest challenges is maintaining the relevance and competitiveness of the North American bedding industry in a rapidly changing global environment. We are dealing with changing consumer behavior, global competition, increasing regulatory requirements, trade uncertainty, and significant changes in how mattresses are designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold.
Industry associations need to evolve alongside those changes. We cannot simply continue doing what worked 10 or 20 years ago.
Europe provides an interesting example. The European Bedding Industries Association faced significant questions about its own future and relevance. By reassessing its strategy and organization, it was able to reposition itself and create renewed value for its members. I believe ISPA has a similar opportunity. We need a clear strategy for the coming years that focuses on where ISPA can genuinely make a difference for its members and for the competitiveness of our industry.
Groom: There are a lot of challenges right now, but I’d say the biggest is balancing rising costs while still giving customers a great product at a fair price. On top of that, with more companies joining together, it can be harder for brands to stand out. Finding ways to stay different and provide real value is more important than ever.
McGuire: One of the biggest challenges facing our industry within the U.S. is simplifying the mattress end-of-life process. Looking ahead, mattress manufacturers should be designing systems and products today to meet future state regulatory requirements and management of these products. It’s a very complex situation for the U.S., with each state’s approach likely to be managed differently.
BT: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
Cleyman: One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is helping expand Innofa from primarily a textile manufacturer into a much broader innovation and manufacturing partner for the bedding industry.
A particularly important milestone was the development of engineered mattress covers. We recognized early that the growth of e-commerce would change mattress construction and create new requirements for covers. Seeing that concept embraced by some of the largest e-commerce mattress companies was extremely rewarding.
I am equally proud of the growth of Innofa itself. Over the years, we have significantly expanded our activities, capabilities, and market position, not only in North America but also in Europe. For me, the most rewarding part has been combining innovation with international growth and seeing ideas that started within our organization become meaningful products and businesses within the industry.
Groom: [I’m most proud of] developing the creative department at Spring Air. We went from completely outsourced to 100% internal creative! This allows us to move quickly and assist our overall licensee base more efficiently and effectively.
McGuire: I am most proud of the partnerships and relationships built throughout my career across the industry. These partnerships have been the cornerstone of accelerating product development to grow SSB’s business and the businesses of our strategic partners.
BT: What do you hope the board achieves during your term?
Cleyman: My primary goal is to help establish a clear and relevant strategy for ISPA’s future. I want members to be able to clearly answer a very simple question: “What value does ISPA bring to my company and to our industry?”
That means understanding the priorities of manufacturers and suppliers, advocating effectively on issues that affect our competitiveness, supporting a strong North American manufacturing platform, and ensuring that ISPA’s resources are focused on areas where the organization can have meaningful impact.
I also hope we continue strengthening ISPA’s role in regulatory and trade matters. I have advocated for ISPA to examine issues affecting trade within North America, particularly within the USMCA framework, and I was pleased that we were able to have an open and balanced discussion and vote on those issues.
Ultimately, I would like my contribution to the board to be measured by whether ISPA becomes more relevant to its members and better positioned for the next generation of the bedding industry.
Groom: I’m not arriving with a fixed agenda. What I’d want most is for the board to stay close to what member companies are actually struggling with day to day—costs, supply chain, government regulations, whatever it turns out to be—and let that set our priorities. Beyond that, I’d like ISPA to keep proving its value to members and to create more opportunities for peers to share what’s working and what isn’t. Some of the best problem-solving in this industry happens when competitors sit down and talk honestly about the pressures we all face.
McGuire: Identify initiatives across the industry that will aid in reversing the decline in mattress sales within the U.S.
BT: What is something industry colleagues would be surprised to know about you?
Cleyman: My most favorite hobby is kite surfing, which I mainly exercise in the Caribbean (Bonaire).
Groom: I pretty much always have some kind of project going. If I’m not working, I’m usually doing some kind of craft, tackling a home project, or coming up with something new I want to make or try.
McGuire: I’m a music fan and love all genres of music. My husband and I love seeing our favorite bands or cover bands in live concerts, especially those performed in more intimate venues where you truly become a part of the experience.
