Conference Schedule
Below are the informative sessions and networking activities we held at the 2023 ISPA Industry Conference.
Check back in the summer of 2024 for details on the upcoming conference.
5:30pm – 6:30pm
Early-Bird Cocktail Hour
Meet fellow golfers and conference attendees while enjoying a refreshing cocktail.
11:00am – 5:00pm
ISPA Golf Tournament (includes boxed lunch)
Hit the greens with fellow industry golfers on the championship 18 hole Vinoy® golf course. Polish your game on the driving range, practice putting green, new golf simulator, bunker and chipping area.
Box Lunch: 11am | Golf Tournament starts at 12 Noon.

2:30pm – 4:00pm

WithIt, Leadership Roundtable Discussions
Join Women's Leadership Development Network host, Amy Van Dorp, for two 45-minute roundtable discussions.
I Got Your Back: Mentoring and Sponsorship for Women
How to nurture and leverage relationships to thrive.
The Power of No: The Importance of Choosing When to Say Yes
How to use the power of “no” to create reasonable boundaries.
4:30pm – 5:30pm

ISPA Women’s Network Reception
Enjoy light refreshments, reconnect and meet other professional women in the bedding industry.

6:00pm – 7:30pm
ISPA Welcome Reception & Exhibits
Enjoy a cocktail, make valuable new contacts, and learn about the latest products and innovations in the bedding industry.

8:00am – 9:00am
Networking Breakfast and Exhibits
9:00am – 10:15am
Opening Keynote Session
The Mach 2 Mindset: Decision-Making in a High-Speed Environment
Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) – First Woman Thunderbird Pilot, Combat Veteran, Fighter Squadron Commander, White House Fellow & Adviser, and Indomitable Spirit
The organization that moves the fastest often realizes the most success. Having flown a high-tech fighter aircraft that can reach speeds of up to twice the speed of sound, Nicole Malachowski offers principles that keep any organization functioning smoothly, efficiently, and at high speed, even when chaos and the unexpected occur.

10:45am – 11:45am
Business Session
Remaining Relevant in a Digital Marketplace
David Kepron, Author and former Vice President, Global Design Strategies at Marriott International as well as founder of Retail (r)Evolution, LLC and NXTLVL Experience Design, LLC
David shares his expertise and visionary ideas on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends in retail, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, and more. He illustrates how brand strategy, science and emerging technologies are changing consumer expectations and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace.

11:45pm – 12:30pm
Panel Discussion
Industry retailers and leaders discuss the digital marketplace within the context of David Kepron’s presentation, including an audience Q&A.
Moderated by David Kepron
Panelists:
Greg Trzcinski, President, The Original Mattress Factory
Lisa Humphrey, President, Fred’s Beds
Don Kirisits, Vice President, Sales and Merchandising, Mattress Kings
Chris Bradley, Executive Vice President, BedInABox®
1:45pm – 2:40pm
Business Session
The Path Towards Supply Chain Sustainability
Alexis Bateman, Research Affiliate and Visiting Lecturer, MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics and
Sustainability Technology Lead, Amazon Web Services Supply Chain
Alexis will discuss why it is increasingly important for all businesses – including bedding companies – to have sustainable supply chains. She will offer practical advice that manufacturers and component suppliers large and small can use to make their businesses more efficient and resilient.
Alexis’s work focuses on supply chain sustainability through research, education, and engagement. She has over fifteen years of experience in the public sector, industry, and academics, including work with the UN Industrial Development Organization, Charles River Analytics, and has led several projects for California municipalities. Alexis received her Ph.D. from the School of Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine in Environmental Planning and Management and Masters in Urban and Regional Planning. She serves on the Board of Open Supply Hub, a nonprofit dedicating to open supply chain data.

3:00pm – 4:00pm
Closing Keynote Session
Blueprint to the Future: Leading in a New World of Work
Eric Termuende, Best-Selling Author & Workplace Culture Expert
Workplace culture and leadership expert Eric Termuende shares his research-backed blueprint for successful leadership in a world that has yet to be created. You will receive a practical guide to building teams that are more productive, engaged, creative, and innovative. From navigating talent shortages to leading remote teams, Eric helps can help you build an action plan to navigate uncertainty and understand what to expect in the future of work.

6:00pm – 7:00pm
Industry Cocktail Reception
Enjoy refreshments while mixing and mingling with your peers.

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CONTACT
General Questions: 703-683-8371
Sponsor/Exhibit: Kerri Bellias, 336-945-0265
Registration: [email protected]