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 Matthew Beard, CEO, A.H. Beard; Billy Blackburn, CEO, Alexium; and Magali Castillo, vice president of marketing, E.S. Kluft & Company.
BedTimes: What drew you to serve on the board of ISPA?
Matthew Beard: Sleep is one of the few things every person on earth has in common, and our industry sits at the center of it. I joined to bring an Australian and Asia-Pacific voice to a board that shapes the direction of the global industry—and because after five generations in this business, I care deeply about leaving it stronger than I found it. Service felt like the natural way to contribute beyond my own company.
Billy Blackburn: I was honored to join the sleep product industry’s biggest advocate. I am personally passionate about free markets and defending fair play. I truly believe competitive forces should dictate the winners and losers in the market, not politics or any form of corruption.
Magali Castillo: The Flex Bedding Group has been represented on the ISPA board for many years, and three years ago, I was invited to join as a representative of E.S. Kluft & Company. I was excited by the opportunity to work alongside a diverse group of manufacturers and suppliers, bringing different perspectives together to address the challenges facing our industry and work purposefully on behalf of ISPA members. For me, serving on the board is also a meaningful way to give back to an industry I have been part of for many years and to help identify opportunities that can benefit our members and the industry as a whole.
BT: What unique perspective or expertise do you bring to this board?
Beard: I represent a fifth-generation, family-owned manufacturer with 126 years of experience. I bring the full value chain in one view: manufacturing, brand building, and international licensing. I also bring the Asia-Pacific market perspective, which behaves quite differently to North America.
Blackburn: I was asked to join the ISPA board for two primary reasons: 1) to bring a chemistry and coatings industry representative to the board’s expertise, and 2) to add someone with a recycling business background to the board and to the [Mattress Recycling Council] and Sustainability committees.
Castillo: I bring 19 years of experience in the bedding industry, having worked in both Europe and the U.S. in global marketing roles spanning mainstream to luxury brands. My background across product development, brand management, digital strategy, and trade marketing has given me a broad perspective on the business and, in particular, on how we connect product innovation with evolving consumer expectations and market needs. I believe that combination of international experience and a strong consumer- and brand-focused perspective allows me to bring a different and complementary point of view to the board.
BT: What is the biggest challenge facing our industry in 2026?
Beard: Consumer confidence and discretionary spending remain under real pressure, and a mattress is an easy purchase to defer. The challenge is convincing consumers that quality sleep is a health investment, not a luxury, at the same time as input costs and channel economics keep shifting.
Blackburn: I believe the biggest challenge is directly related to supply and demand. Technology advances have made the world “flat,” and that has ushered in more producers and sellers, which has led to a surplus of supply over demand. That has prolonged the recessed bedding market that started after the COVID-19 purchasing frenzy in 2020 and 2021. There must be a market correction, which will likely result in a continued consolidation of industry players and further exits from those unable to operate profitably.
Castillo: I believe one of the biggest challenges facing our industry in 2026 is navigating continued macroeconomic uncertainty. Global economic and trade pressures, including tariffs and rising costs, make it increasingly difficult for businesses to plan ahead, while consumer confidence remains fragile and consumers are becoming more cautious and value conscious. In this environment, our industry needs to remain agile—continuing to innovate, adapt to changing market conditions, and communicate the value of quality sleep and products that truly meet consumers’ needs.
BT: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
Beard: Carrying a 126-year-old family business into its fifth generation and keeping its people, craft, and reputation intact. Anyone can chase a single good year. Stewarding something built by four generations before you—and making decisions you would be comfortable explaining to the next generation—is the accomplishment I value most.
Blackburn: I am proudest of the legacy I have created thus far. As an entrepreneur, I founded, built, and sold a business that continues to thrive today. It is profitable and provides income and stability for many families. As an executive, I am proudest of the cultural and strategic improvements I made at the businesses I have led. The teams that I left behind at prior companies have continued to thrive long after I left. I am very proud that I helped build that—and that they carried on successfully after I departed.
Castillo: What I am most proud of is the career I have built across different countries, cultures, and business environments, and my ability to continually adapt along the way. These experiences have taught me to embrace different perspectives, bring people together, and develop teams with diverse backgrounds and ways of thinking. They have shaped the way I lead and collaborate with others, while also contributing greatly to who I am today, both professionally and personally.
BT: What do you hope the board achieves during your term?
Beard: I would like ISPA to keep strengthening its role as the credible, science-backed voice of the industry, particularly on sleep health and product sustainability. I also hope we continue broadening the board’s global perspective so the association reflects the whole industry. If members finish my term feeling the association advocates effectively and represents them well, that is success.
Blackburn: I hope that we can assist our members—the international industry—in progressing sustainability through recycling and with successfully navigating the increasingly complex global economy.
Castillo: I hope the board continues to strengthen its advocacy efforts at both the state and federal levels while further developing the business intelligence and industry research that help our members make informed decisions. In an increasingly complex and rapidly changing marketplace, accurate and reliable information is invaluable, and I would like to see us continue improving the depth and accuracy of our industry data and, over time, provide more detailed market segmentation, including greater visibility into premium and luxury trends and performance. The more relevant and actionable the information we can provide, the better equipped our members will be to understand the market and navigate it successfully.
BT: What is something industry colleagues would be surprised to know about you?
Beard: People assume the job is all boardrooms and spreadsheets, but the real edge for me comes from the basics: staying fit, eating well, training regularly, and protecting my sleep. I treat mindset as the biggest X factor in this business, and exercise and sleep are what keep mine sharp. Most of my best thinking happens away from the desk.
Blackburn: In my youth, I was a competitive skateboarder competing in half pipes and pools all over North America. Then, I started racing bicycles on and off road. Both are the reason I have so many scars and walk around limping. Now, my son says I am just an old curmudgeon ;).
Castillo: My French accent is difficult to miss—and despite many years abroad, I have never managed to lose it! What people may not know is that I am half French and half Spanish, lived in Spain for 16 years, speak three languages, and have called five different countries home over the course of my life. I guess you could say that feeling at home in different cultures has become part of who I am.
