The International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) announced that it has appointed Ryan Trainer, its current executive vice president and 30-year Washington veteran, as its new president.
Trainer joined ISPA in 2002 after more than 20 years in government and private law practice in Washington. During that time, he built a strong reputation as an advocate for business in public policy debates while serving at the U.S. Commerce Department and with several leading law firms. Since coming to ISPA eight years ago as the group’s second ranking professional and general counsel, he has played a key role leading its statistics, legal, consumer product safety and sustainability platforms.
“Ryan has a thorough understanding of the issues that are critical to the sleep products industry and the skill to navigate the corridors of Washington to assure our voice is heard on matters important to us,” said ISPA Chairman Don Wright, chairman and chief marketing officer of Wright of Thomasville. “Our Board had a very clear vision that at this time in the evolution of ISPA, we needed a top professional who was a strong executive, experienced Washington hand and someone who already understood our industry issues. Ryan was the only person we felt combined all of these talents.”
The president’s post at ISPA was vacant since Richard Doyle resigned from the organization last year. A search committee considered executives from the industry as well as external candidates for the position, and also spoke with many members about their vision for ISPA going forward.
“We have learned a lot about what the industry wants and expects from ISPA in the future as a part of this process. Now with Ryan’s promotion, we will be able to start acting upon many of these recommendations. It is a very exciting time for our industry and ISPA,” Wright added.
According to Trainer, “ISPA will continue to focus on the issues that affect the sleep products industry and maximize the value of our programs to our membership.”
“Washington is trying to impose many new costs on business, and the sleep products industry needs a strong and unified voice in our nation’s capital, which ISPA provides,” said Trainer. “Even before I joined the ISPA staff in 2002, I worked with the organization on many matters as its outside legal counsel. As a result, I am familiar with both our history and advocacy in Washington, and what we must do to assure that we have a greater voice and impact for our industry.”
Prior to joining ISPA, Trainer was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of international law firm Clifford Chance, and prior to that was a partner with Rogers & Wells. Throughout his career, he has represented manufacturers, service providers and trade associations on a broad variety of trade, consumer privacy and product safety issues. He has appeared before a number of federal and state government agencies, courts and Congress to represent his clients. Earlier in his career he worked in the office of the general counsel for the U.S. Commerce Department.
Trainer received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado where he majored in economics, and he received his law degree from George Washington University. He is a member of the District of Columbia and Commonwealth of Virginia bars.
He and his wife have two children and reside in Vienna, VA.
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 represents nearly 650 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, publications, the ISPAEarth™ Industry Sustainability Initiative and more.
To learn more, visit www.sleepproducts.org or contact info@sleepproducts.org.