ISPA Celebrating 100 Years Serving the Mattress IndustryALEXANDRIA, VA—The 2015 ISPA Industry Conference will take place March 4-5 at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, FL. This year, the conference will also be the venue for a special Centennial Dinner Celebration to mark the association’s 100th year of service to the mattress industry.

“To achieve 100 years of service to the mattress industry is a phenomenal feat, and we are delighted to participate in the conference to help celebrate this milestone for the mattress industry and the association,” noted Bob Steelman, vice president of sales and marketing for Carpenter Co.

The two-day conference begins Wednesday, March 4 with the ISPA Golf Tournament at noon, followed by the ISPA Women’s Networking Reception and evening Welcome Reception.

Day two features opening keynote speaker Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes, entrepreneur, investor, columnist and regular panelist on “Forbes on FOX.” He will share the findings from his latest, highly acclaimed book, The Soft Edge, in which he argues that in addition to shrewd strategy and superb execution, a third element is required to achieve lasting success.

Also on the schedule is Phil Johnston, senior vice president of Strategic Services Group for Marcus Thomas LLC, who will discuss how new and emerging technologies are enabling and empowering consumers as never before. He will also moderate an industry panel with panelists Stephen Stickler, vice president of Ashley Sleep, Michelle Montgomery, vice president of sales and marketing for Simmons Bedding Co., and Sean Bergman, chief marketing officer for PureCare.

Speaker Emily Holdman, vice president of adventure.es, will follow with a focus on what the new breed of entrepreneurs do to innovate, stay nimble and respond quickly to new opportunities. She’ll examine how these practices can serve even the most seasoned executives in approaching the future.

The closing keynote will be delivered by John Spence, business adviser and strategist, who has been named three times as one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in America. In his latest book, Awesomely Simple, he captures the lessons learned from decades of consulting with more than 500 business clients.

The Conference culminates Thursday evening with ISPA’s Centennial Celebration in the Vinoy Renaissance Grand Ballroom. Participants will enjoy dinner and an entertaining and highly engaging program about the history of the association and the mattress industry. Following dinner, the Insomniaczzz, the mattress industry band, will entertain guests at an informal afterparty.

For more information on the 2015 ISPA Industry Conference, visit www.ispaindustryconference.com

Established in 1915, the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the growth, profitability and stature of the mattress industry. As the industry’s trade organization, ISPA is the voice of the mattress industry, representing mattress manufacturers and suppliers throughout the world.

ISPA provides a wide range of services that benefit its membership. These include exclusive industry surveys and statistics, advocacy support, educational offerings, the industry’s ISPA EXPO trade show, safety research through its Sleep Products Safety Council, consumer research and education through its Better Sleep Council, BedTimes and Sleep Savvy publications, and more.

To learn more, visit www.sleepproducts.org or contact [email protected].

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