Where should ISPA look for leadership?
“This,” the bedding veteran said to me the other day, “will make a good blog: Should the International Sleep Products Assn. look for an association leader for its next president, or should it hire someone from within the bedding industry?”
That is an interesting question, and it is one that is sparking discussion throughout the industry these days. I heard a number of names being bandied about as candidates for ISPA president during the association’s Industry Conference and Exhibition, now under way as I write this.
The names I heard discussed at the ISPA meeting were those of well-known bedding industry figures, leaders from the ranks of manufacturers. I could see those executives providing sound leadership for ISPA, especially at this challenging time in its history.
It’s harder to imagine what a bedding outsider might bring to ISPA these days.
So what do you think: Should ISPA look for a leader from within the industry’s ranks? Should it look for someone with association experience? Or is there another alternative that the bedding veteran didn’t mention?
Ben There commented:
Let the accountants run it. They are running everything else.
Lisa Stansbury commented:
I have quite a few ideas on who would be good for ISPA. Mainly those that have been there for sometime, but that sit back and listen. Dig deep, they're all in there.
jazzie commented:
If ISPA is to be successful it must provide value to its members. A "bedding guy or gal" will be able to understand better than an outsider what would be valuable to members and be able to communicate that value better than an outsider who will have to go thru a long learning curve.
Ryan Leonhardt commented:
We have got to hire talent first. Why even consider in or out of the industry? Talent first, and as an after-thought, let's look at experience. Some people with experience hide behind the weaknesses in our industry. An outsider could see problems from a fresh perspective. 10, 20, 30 year warranties for instance. One would think that an outsider would see a product that is suggested to last 5-10 years and has 10-30 year warranties would think something is not right. The industry veteran has more of a propensity to accept these mind numbingly odd quirks as, "just what we do."
interested commented:
People need to pay attention to what the current ISPA leadership is doing. This current group is open minded and motivated to changing the direction of ISPA as well as figuring out a way to unite the industry. The industry should stand behind them and provide as much input as possible.
concerned commented:
The lack of comments reads "apathy" to me. Houston, we have a problem!
mattress guy commented:
Why not let a mattress industry big hitter take a shot? There are plenty of big boys out there that coould make a difference. Membership seems to be the key to success. And ISPA, needs stronger membership and help from the top producers.
Jake commented:
I strongly urge the ISPA Board to first consider someone from within the industry who understands the challenges and opportunities our businesses represent.
