The FAM’s Mark and Tara Kinsley Bring a Fresh Spin to “Conference Learning”
Sleep Summit, hosted by Mark and Tara Kinsley of The FAM, delivered anything but a typical conference experience. Instead of long lectures and canned panels, the event pulsed with energy—music, laughter, and genuine connection filled every corner.
The sessions were purposeful and relevant, with speakers tackling real issues shaping the sleep industry today. Most of the day was interactive, keeping the audience engaged and sparking meaningful dialogue. The format made it easy to meet new people, share ideas, and expand your circle of influence in the business.
“I learned a lot, made new industry connections, and fulfilled a few goals I had,” said SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones. “I loved being in Bentonville, AR, and I’ll definitely keep Sleep Summit on my calendar!”
The Speakers
Dr. Chris Kuehl: The Economy Is Stronger Than You Think
At Sleep Summit 2025, Dr. Kuehl, Chief Economist at Armada Corporate Intelligence, delivered a fast-moving, witty breakdown of the economy—anchored in facts, not fear. Referencing John Kenneth Galbraith, he reminded attendees: “There are two kinds of forecasters—those who don’t know, and those who don’t know they don’t know.”
Kuehl’s message was clear: the U.S. economy is resilient. GDP growth is near 3%, unemployment remains low, and consumers—especially upper- and middle-income groups—are still spending. He highlighted a “K-shaped recovery,” where the top earners thrive while lower-income consumers face more pressure.
For the sleep industry, he pointed to housing, demographics, and health-focused consumers as steady growth drivers. Boomers downsizing and millennials forming households both create ongoing mattress demand.
“The first thing every new homeowner buys is a bed,” Kuehl said. “That’s not changing—what’s changing is who that homeowner is.”
Bottom line: Stay calm, stay data-driven, and look for opportunity in shifting demographics and spending patterns.
AI Meets Neuroscience: Dr. Elie Gottlieb on the Next Frontier of Sleep Health
Dr. Gottlieb is a leading sleep scientist and AI researcher at Sleep.ai, pioneering what he calls the “precision era of sleep.” His work blends neuroscience and technology to personalize rest based on individual biology and behavior.
At Sleep Summit 2025, Dr. Gottlieb revealed how adaptive systems and AI-driven insights are transforming sleep from a comfort conversation into one of cognitive performance and wellness. His message to the industry was clear: the future of sleep is intelligent, measurable, and deeply human.
“We’re entering a time when your bed will act more like a sleep therapist than a piece of furniture,” says Dr. Gottlieb. “The companies that understand this shift will lead the future of healthy living.”
Eugene Alletto: The Future of Performance Bedding
Alletto, founder and CEO of BEDGEAR, shared how shifting consumer behaviors and wellness trends are redefining the performance bedding category. He emphasized that sleep now stands alongside nutrition and exercise as a core pillar of health — especially among younger generations focused on recovery and longevity.
Alletto highlighted a massive generational shift in buying influence, noting that Millennials and Gen Z already represent half the market. While Boomers still hold the wealth, younger consumers are dictating how that money gets spent — and they expect personalized, health-driven products.
He introduced BEDGEAR’s philosophy of “Cleverosity” — a blend of curiosity and clever innovation — as a call for the industry to move beyond a “sea of sameness” and focus on tailored sleep solutions that align with modern wellness lifestyles.
In closing, Alletto described this as “the best time in 30 years to be in the home furnishings industry — if we’re willing to change fast enough.”
Kevin Kappenman — Tech as Personalization and Insight
Founder of ScanFit.ai, Kappenman’s focus was on using AI-driven scanning and fit technologies to transform how retailers connect customers with the right sleep products. He argued that technology should not replace salespeople — it should amplify them through smarter insights and data-driven recommendations.
“When we can take a simple scan and translate that into fit, comfort, and sleep data, the salesperson becomes an expert consultant instead of just someone quoting coil counts.”
His larger theme was about reducing friction in the retail experience — using data and AI to make the customer feel understood and served instantly. He emphasized that this kind of technology isn’t about novelty; it’s about relevance and trust. He also discussed bridging the gap between online convenience and in-store expertise, noting that ScanFit.ai’s adaptive recommendations can make brick-and-mortar interactions feel as seamless as digital ones.
Kappenman’s perspective represents the operational intelligence side of the equation — using technology to empower retailers and personalize engagement at scale.
Chris Adams — Engagement as Authentic, Human Connection
Adams, Vice President at Podium (Podium.com), centered on the human side of digital communication — particularly how local retailers can use modern engagement platforms (like texting, reviews, and chat automation) to build loyalty and responsiveness in a distracted marketplace.
“People don’t want to fill out a form or wait for an email — they want a real conversation, right now, on the device that’s in their hand.”
His message was clear: the future of customer engagement isn’t about adding more tech, but about making digital feel personal. He framed texting and conversational commerce as “the new front door” for the mattress industry — a way to humanize online touchpoints and keep relationships alive beyond the showroom.
Adams also linked customer engagement to reputation management, stressing that a retailer’s digital conversation record is now part of its brand. The companies that respond quickly, collect reviews, and text authentically are the ones that win repeat business.
Scott Vaughn — Leadership as Servant Accountability
As owner of Wingo Coaching, Vaughn framed leadership as service through clarity and discipline. He argued that many leaders in retail and manufacturing “confuse busyness with progress,” and that great leadership means “creating space for others to win.” Vaughn described leadership as a process of self-awareness and courageous conversation — “If you’re not willing to face truth with your team, you’re not leading — you’re managing feelings.”
He urged sleep industry executives to focus on coaching over commanding: empowering front-line staff and store managers to understand their “why” rather than just their “what.” Vaughn emphasized that sustainable leadership cultures in mattress retail depend on trust and the consistent modeling of values, not slogans or incentive programs.
Russ Robertson — Leadership as Legacy and Integrity
Robertson, who worked personally with Sam Walton during his Walmart career before retiring, spoke during a VIP Fireside Chat about leadership as stewardship. He shared that Sam Walton’s best leadership lesson was “never think you’re bigger than the people who open the doors every morning.” Robertson contrasted today’s fast-moving corporate culture with Walton’s principle of walking the floor and knowing names. He urged sleep industry leaders — especially manufacturers and retailers scaling nationally — to keep that human scale: “The further you rise, the more you need to listen down.”
Robertson also tied leadership to continuity, noting that his “mentorship lineage” was part of what kept Walmart’s culture alive: “You don’t just build a company; you build people who build companies after you.” He warned that leadership in the mattress space should guard against complacency: “Comfort is for customers — not leaders.”
Jason Goodman — Finding Balance in Business
Goodman, Senior Vice President of Business Development, City Mattress & PranaSleep brought a high-energy, interactive session to Sleep Summit 2025, using baseball bats and a balance demonstration to illustrate a core message: focus determines stability. He challenged attendees to look beyond surface metrics and build balanced strategies for sustainable growth. “Focus on the right thing, and balance follows.”
Goodman compared leadership focus to flying a plane—constantly making micro-adjustments while keeping an eye on key gauges. “When you yank the stick back because margins dip, your people feel it,” he said, urging leaders to stay steady and communicate clear priorities. His talk emphasized the importance of frameworks, consistent training, and alignment across teams to drive what he called “same-store margin dollar growth.”
Patrick Wolf — From Police Officer to Purpose-Driven Leader
Wolf, Vice President of Avocado Green Brands captivated the audience with a story drawn from his past as a Marine and police officer—an intense chase that ended with the arrest of a wanted felon. The tale wasn’t just entertaining; it underscored his belief in preparation, perseverance, and doing the right thing even when it’s hard. “Don’t let a crackhead outwork you.”
In his present role at Avocado, Wolf connects those lessons to business and leadership. “Everything I learned led up to that moment,” he reflected, tying it to how he approaches challenges in his current role. He closed with humor and heart, reminding the crowd to keep their drive alive: “Don’t let a crackhead outwork you. If you get too excited about that line, you probably need a little Jesus in your life.”
Mark Kinsley: From Prompt Boss to Practical AI
Across multiple sessions, Mark Kinsley guided attendees through how to actually use AI — not just talk about it. He delivered three short “AI mini-sessions” exploring what he called the three A’s: Assistants, Automations, and Agents.
Kinsley showed how retailers can find friction in their business and use AI tools to eliminate repetitive work so they can “spend more time being human.” He demonstrated real-world automations, like AI that rewrites Google reviews into social posts, and explained how AI agents will soon perform full workflows — researching competitors, building presentations, even writing reports — autonomously.
He also reminded retailers to stay hands-on: “The big unlock isn’t the tech — it’s learning to communicate with it.” (Here he is “hands-on” a cute mini pony!)
The People
High Fives, Bright Ideas & Bentonville Nights: Reliving Sleep Summit
From live music with Charlie DeCarlo and the Avocado Green Band to late-night dancing, scenic group rides, and even a stop at the Walmart Museum’s Sam Walton Hologram Room, Sleep Summit 2025 blended Bentonville charm with unforgettable moments — proving that business breakthroughs and good times go hand in hand.
