I DON’ T NEED TO TELL ANY OF YOU that we’ re living in interesting times. None of us ever imagined going through something like Covid— but we did. We survived, although many of us are still feeling the ripple effects in our businesses. The dates for the 2026 ISPA Conference serve as a lingering reminder of how deeply we were impacted. ISPA’ s calendar shifted out of necessity, with limited options available during a period of intense demand as countless events were being rescheduled.

Now, we’ re navigating a new wave of uncertainty— impending tariffs, policy whiplash and an overall sense of unpredictability. The mood is a bit chaotic. Change— whether personal or professional— can be incredibly unsettling.

On a lighter note, my cute husband and I recently started a fun little remodel project in a few of our closets. We went with the IKEA Pax system( if you don’ t know about it— game changer!) We’ ve loved it but let me tell you: The process causes all sorts of disruption. First, we had to take everything out. Then came the hard part— making decisions on every item. I am not a shopper, so letting go of favorite“ old” clothes wasn’ t easy. But it was necessary.

Creating something new— whether it’ s a closet system or a business strategy— often demands disruption and a little patience. But in the end, it’ s always worth the effort. n

LYNNE MCNEES, ISPA PRESIDENT

One thing IKEA doesn’ t show in the Pax marketing materials: the chaos before the closet is completed!

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LYNNE WALKER McNEES