Rocky Mountain highs prompt ISPA awards
David Perry, Executive editor -- Furniture Today, March 24, 2002
It's awards season, and I'd like to do my part by handing out some special bedding awards. The category: Expo 2002, the International Sleep Products Assn.'s convention and trade show, which was held earlier this month in Denver.
Here is a look at the highs and highlights, and the weird and the wacky, from Expo 2002:
Weirdest Weather: Denver. It was downright balmy as the show began. Then it got colder. On Friday some serious white stuff blanketed the city. Friday night was frigid.
Liveliest Dancers: Leggett & Platt. Those energetic young dancers at the Leggett & Platt party stepped out in style. Dare we say that they had real "spring" in their steps?
Best Cheerleaders: Those Denver Bronco cheerleaders at the show and the stadium, who entertained for Western Nonwovens, helped make that company's party a rah-rah success. The guy who rolled custom cigars was a nice touch too.
Best Show Booth: Culp's fashion show runway, complete with wood cutouts of photographers, was fun. The ticking looked good too.
Best Show Giveaway: Carpenter's Qualatex foam balls. Thoughtfully, I brought several back to the office, so we editorial types could throw them around, relieve our stress, and talk foam.
Biggest Smiles: The folks from Latex International were delighted to talk about the imminent launch of their new latex plant in Connecticut. They will bounce back strong.
Best Honeymoon Joke: Ron Jones of Sealy said the advice he got before speaking at the Industry Breakfast — "Don't do anything clever and we can get this thing over" — was the same advice his wife gave him on their honeymoon.
Second Best Honeymoon Joke: Norm Veitzer of Omaha Bedding said he had to admire any man who could still remember his honeymoon.
Speechless in Denver: Gerry Borreggine, a man seldom at a loss for words, was stunned to silence (almost) when he was named the winner of the Robert MacMorran Award. He was a deserving winner for his work with the Better Sleep Council. And he managed to say some nice things when the shock of the award subsided.
A Class Act: ISPA's Russ Abolt was honored with the association's highest award for more than three decades of service to ISPA. A rare talent, he will be missed when he retires this summer. But the great staff and association he built will continue to serve the industry well.
Best Attitudes: The mood was upbeat everywhere I went. Business started off strong this year. The bad taste from last year is gone. Happier days are here again.
Best Industry: The bedding industry. We have a wonderful sense of family that really comes through at ISPA events. I had a great time being back with you.
Opinion columns are available online at www.furnituretoday.com.
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