“Coffee Talk” – With ISPA President Ryan Trainer

ISPA President Ryan Trainer recently announced he will retire from ISPA after more than two decades. Here he shares what the search process will be like to find his replacement and what he plans to do in retirement. (Hint: It’s a five-letter word.)

Transcript

Waynette Goodson
It’s Waynette Goodson, and I’m your managing editor of BedTimes and Sleep Savvy magazines. I’m here today with our ISPA president, Ryan Trainer, because Ryan, you have big news. We have announced your retirement in the March issue of BedTimes. Everybody is talking about it, so why don’t you kick us off? You’ve been with us for 22 years.

Waynette Goodson
Why now? Why retire now? Why is it the right time?

Ryan Trainer
Well, I’m at a point. I’m 67 years old. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been a wonderful, wonderful experience for me. The industry is terrific to serve. The team we have here at ISPA is wonderful, but I realize I’ve got a lot more things that I want to do personally, and I think it’s time to turn it over to somebody else.

Ryan Trainer
I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a tough decision to make, but I think the time is right.

Waynette Goodson
Okay. Well, I know you are so well-loved, Ryan, just from being on the street and attending all our industry events. Everybody likes you, and you’re going to be so missed. So why don’t you just kind of soothe our souls with what the process is going to be like for you as far as you know, how you’re going to do the selection process, and what the timing for this is?

Waynette Goodson
So, brief us on that.

Ryan Trainer
Okay, very good. I’ve talked to the ISPA board of trustees about the transition process, and it’s very clear they want a very smooth and thorough transition process. So, the board has formed a search committee. The search committee has come up with a job description, which we’ve posted on Indeed and LinkedIn. We’ve already started receiving some resumes that we’re vetting right now. Right after EXPO is over

Ryan Trainer
we’ll do a more thorough review of the resumes. The committee will make its decision. I expect that we’ll probably have my replacement chosen by summer, and then we’ll have an orderly transition process. I’m not sure exactly how long that will be, but I’ll probably be here at least through year-end, maybe a little longer, just to make sure there’s a smooth handoff to my successor.

Waynette Goodson
Right now, I have submitted my resume, but I may not have enough experience. I totally understand. So, I really love working for the publication, Ryan. I think it’s probably a better fit for me. So now, let’s move on to the last question. Why don’t you just talk about what you’re looking forward to in your retirement? You know what you’re going to be doing next.

Ryan Trainer
Well, I really enjoy travel. Our family enjoys scuba diving, so we’ve got some travel plans for our retirement. And then I’m going to sleep a lot. I hear it’s good for you.

Waynette Goodson
Imagine that. Finally, sleep. I love that ending. Well, on that note, Ryan, we all wish you the very, very best. I look forward to seeing you soon and wish you all the best. We’ll be looking out for more news on who the next president will be. So thank you very much, and thank all of you for tuning in to this sort of coffee chat with Ryan and finding out what’s next.

Waynette Goodson
Thanks. And I get a great night’s sleep. Thank you. Bye bye. Okay.