2025 SPESA Executive Conference To Prioritize Industry Resiliency with Theme: Forging Forward - Building Resilient, Future-Ready Businesses

SPESA Announcement

We're operating in a time of uncertainty — from fluctuating markets to geopolitical concerns to supply chain disruptions. Yet, despite hurdles on the horizon, the sewn products industry has remained resilient (something we talked a lot about in our 2025 SPESA State of Our Union).

For the 2025 SPESA Executive Conference, we’d like to lean into that resiliency by providing conference attendees with the tools, insights, and inspiration needed to prevail.

Here’s a first look at some of the topics we’ll be covering: 

Talking Tariffs with Sheng Lu, Ph.D. 

In this session, Dr. Sheng Lu, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, will share his observations about the impact of tariffs on U.S. apparel sourcing and trade as well as the U.S. domestic textile and apparel manufacturing sector.

Dr. Sheng Lu also served as a consultant for the International Trade Centre co-run by the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. With more than 80 publications in academic and trade journals, Dr. Lu’s research focuses on apparel sourcing, international trade, and trade policy. His published works have been regularly cited by international organizations such as the World Bank and featured by media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, Financial Times (UK), BBC World News (UK), Nikkei Asian Review (Japan), and CNN, among others.

Can’t wait until August to learn from Dr. Lu? Check out his most recent report on the State of the U.S. Textile Industry State of U.S. Textile and Apparel Manufacturing, Employment and Trade here. 

You can also watch Dr. Lu in the IMPACT x Nightline Segment about Shein here. 

Workload Strategies with Tiffany Radon 

We spend a lot of time at SPESA events talking about the importance of production efficiencies. During this presentation, we’ll be taking one step back to look, specifically, at the people behind the production. How can we prioritize efficiency while simultaneously protecting work-life balance for our teams? Tiffany Radon, Manager of Technical Design at Carhartt Inc., will help us answer that question. 

While Tiffany’s primary role at Carhartt Inc. is in technical design, she has formed a keen interest in building and sustaining a strong team dynamic by prioritizing a healthy workload for her peers. 

During this conversation, Tiffany will dive into the importance of having a workload strategy. She’ll share insights and guidance about how organizations can leverage data-driven tools like metrics and workload calculators to balance demands, foster productivity, and promote sustainable growth.

Succession Planning with Miguel Montero 

Whether you operate a global corporation or a small family business, succession planning is imperative for organizational preservation. During this session, you'll learn how to best navigate the often-times difficult task of mapping out a strategic succession plan for your company, including identifying successors, developing skills, and transferring leadership.

Miguel Montero has a broad background in business and organizational development; hardware and software technology; data and analytics; and social compliance, working with both startups and established companies. His diverse industry experience provides a holistic perspective that allows him to support a wide range of consulting clients effectively. 

A strong advocate for privately-owned businesses, Miguel has expanded his expertise with certifications in Financial Modeling and Valuations and Artificial Intelligence for Decision Making. He founded In2track Solutions LLC which works with owners and leaders to implement technology solutions sensibly and ensure the organization is ready for any challenge and opportunity.

That’s just a taste of what you can expect to learn about during the 2025 SPESA Executive Conference in Chicago. Stay tuned for more information and lock in your early bird rate today!