Strategic Thinker » BedTimes Journal
When she’s not main monetary methods, enterprise analytics, and administrative capabilities because the chief monetary officer for the Worldwide Sleep Merchandise Affiliation and its subsidiary, the Mattress Recycling Council, Catherine Lyons is at residence in Virginia, not removed from ISPA’s places of work.
A giant a part of her life is her three sons—two are grown and constructing their careers, whereas her youngest is 16 and a junior in highschool. “We’re beginning the faculty search … oh boy!” says Lyons. A favourite strategy to recharge, she says, “is touring with them after we can; just lately, my youngest and I visited London, and it was the proper reset.”
BedTimes: How lengthy have you ever been with ISPA?
Catherine Lyons: Greater than 20 years, and I’ve had the prospect to help lots of the group’s key applications alongside the way in which. In the present day, my position is to assist our crew keep aligned with our newly up to date strategic targets, present regular management and steering to workers, and handle core operational areas—finance and accounting, administration, know-how, and ISPA occasions. On the finish of the day, I’m centered on ensuring now we have the construction, monetary assets, and readability to ship to our members constantly and responsibly.
BT: What drew you to the sleep business?
CL: I’ve spent greater than 35 years in commerce associations, primarily within the manufacturing sector. Associations occupy a novel area—they’re mission-driven, but extremely strategic and operationally advanced—and that steadiness has stored me engaged all through my profession. I worth working towards a transparent objective and having a significant affect on an business.
ISPA has been an particularly rewarding place to develop professionally whereas contributing in substantive methods. Over time, I’ve taken on rising accountability, in the end entering into the CFO position and serving to form it to satisfy the group’s evolving wants. I’m dedicated to robust monetary stewardship, responsive member service, and considerate decision-making that helps our members and the group’s success.
BT: What’s one thing about ISPA that individuals won’t know that you simply’d wish to share with our readers?
CL: One factor individuals won’t at all times see from the surface is simply how devoted and motivated our crew is. There’s an actual sense of objective right here. Everybody genuinely cares about supporting the business and delivering distinctive customer support.
We really worth our members; we need to do every thing we will to assist them succeed. Whether or not that’s by advocacy, schooling, occasions, or day-to-day help, the main focus is at all times on transferring the business ahead and ensuring our members really feel heard, supported, and effectively served.
BT: What is without doubt one of the most fun stuff you’ve achieved since working for ISPA?
CL: Launching the Mattress Recycling Council from idea to actuality stands out as probably the most thrilling—and difficult—issues I’ve performed at ISPA. It was completely new territory for me and was a real skilled problem. From securing preliminary financing to constructing the organizational framework, we had to think twice about every step and keep centered on doing it the proper method. This took self-discipline in addition to creativity.
We constructed the group deliberately, however we additionally stayed versatile as we discovered and tailored. We paid shut consideration to what labored, what didn’t, and what the info was telling us—then adjusted accordingly. That strategy helped us scale to overseeing 4 state applications, with extra enlargement forward.
It’s been rewarding to see MRC develop right into a high-performing program that helps the business, strengthens ISPA’s monetary stability, and delivers actual environmental advantages.
BT: What’s a guide, podcast, or film you loved just lately that you simply need to advocate to others?
CL: Properly, to be clear, today it’s extra audiobook for me. I like to recommend The Nice Alone by Kristin Hannah. It’s set in Alaska and actually brings the state to life—the sweetness, the isolation, and the quiet stillness. I visited Alaska final summer time, and the audiobook took me proper again to the unimaginable landscapes and sense of vastness I skilled there. It’s a narrative about resilience and the power of household connections. It’s heavy in components, nevertheless it’s a compelling, well-told story.
