ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The new chairman of the International Sleep Products Assn. says the trade association must be a stronger industry advocate as it builds value for current and prospective members.

Therapedic CEO Gerry Borreggine, a veteran of more than 20 years of ISPA service, was elected to ISPA's top position at the group's conference and exhibition here. He succeeds Don Wright, chairman of Wright of Thomasville, who served as ISPA chairman for the past 18 months.

In his inaugural comments as chairman, made at ISPA's Industry Conference and Exhibition here, Borreggine warned that a number of new bills in Washington and in state capitals could hurt bedding companies.

"Our industry needs a strong voice in Washington and in state capitals where legislation threatens the economic recovery of our members," he said. "ISPA's strongest work has always been as an advocate and first line of defense for the industry, almost like an insurance policy, for the continued health of the sleep products sector."

That is one way that ISPA will build value, according to Borreggine.

"The value proposition for current and former members must be so strong that large companies understand the importance of their participation, and smaller members can't exist without it," he said. "We need to continually reassess organizational priorities and make sure we are doing what members want and need."

Borreggine moves into ISPA's top elected position as the trade association finds itself in a resurgent position, thanks to skillful management moves in the last 18 months, officials said.

Borreggine credited much of that recent success to Wright's leadership. "Don Wright brought back our spirit, our confidence, our mission and our integrity," Borreggine told the ISPA members here.

He said that ISPA has "the best and most efficient staff" it has had in 20 years. "It is a leaner but not meaner staff," Borreggine said. "It is a gentler staff, not one that is polarizing."

He said that ISPA "had a problem a couple of years ago," one that he didn't spell out, but noted that ISPA veteran Ryan Trainer and his team "brought back our integrity."

Trainer became ISPA's president about a year ago and has risen to the challenge of heading the trade association, Borreggine said. "We've got the right guy," he said. "This is our leader."

Wright said he worked with Trainer in the last 18 months to refine and define ISPA's role in the industry.

"I am proud of the achievements we have made during my term to restore ISPA's fiscal health by trimming expenses and increasing effectiveness, efficiency and revenues," Wright said. "Moreover, we stabilized the organization during a time of unexpected leadership change and refocused our priorities on core principles."

ISPA has trimmed its staff from 23 full-time staffers two years ago to 15 full-time staffers today. Wright said the leadership looked at all of the ISPA positions and reassigned some responsibilities to better utilize skills of various staff members and to better meet industry needs.

The result is a group with fewer senior managers - three versus five in the former structure - but one that is "more efficient," according to Borreggine and Wright.

"On the revenue side, we have seen increases from key programs like our biannual Expo and new members," Wright said. "Likewise, we have taken important steps to reduce costs, including staff, and even leasing vacant space in our headquarters building to third-party tenants to defray operating expenses."

As a result of those initiatives, ISPA posted a profit last year for the first time in the last four years, Wright said.

ISPA has added a number of members in the past 18 months, including Sherwood Bedding, headed by bedding veteran Leon Ellman.