Organizers Say RV Tech & Inspector Expo ‘Went Very Well’

ATHENS, Texas – The National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) reported 480 people registered for the 2022 Expo, which took place Sept. 26-30 to provide continuing education training for certified RV inspectors and technicians.

“The expo went very well and participants who completed all the sessions earned 30 continuing education credits toward maintaining their certifications with the National RV Inspectors Association (NRVIA) or the RV Technician Association of America (RVTAA),” said Gilda Mitchell, director of membership benefits for both groups.

The 17 presenters and their topics included:

• Mark Kohler, a partner with KKOS Lawyers and Kohler & Eyre CPA, discussed tax and legal strategies to structure a business.
• David Cantrell, owner of Miles From Monday RV Inspection Services, described customer development techniques.
• Shane Hendricks, owner of Damascus Road RV Rental and Inspections, taught about RV suspensions.
• Mike Dickey, HVAC training and rally coordinator at RVP Products, offered training on the Aqua Hot Module 2 burner as well as the Coleman-Mach basic RV air conditioner.
• Mike O’Neil, a technical trainer with Spartan RV Chassis, talked about proper maintenance and service intervals.
• Todd Henson, director of education at NRVTA, discussed RV solar products.
• Kris Spengler, Suburban service manager for Airxcel, offered training on Suburban SF and NT furnaces.
• Coley Brady, president and co-founder of Alliance RV, and Bill Martin, vice president of customer service for Alliance RV, offered an outlook on the RV industry from a manufacturer’s perspective.
• Michele Withrow, service business development manager at Dometic, and Heidi Gayheart, a technical trainer, described the company’s aftermarket service network initiative.
• Rob Boyer, Alliance RV service liaison, and Jim Bonacci, the company’s senior customer service manager, talked about warranty work expectations for mobile technicians.
• Mike Rogers, vice president of product development at HomeGauge, demonstrated how to use Web Writer software to complete RV inspections.
• Jeff Hostetler, from Tom Manning & Associates, offered training on proper sealants and adhesives for RV repairs. He also discussed how an auto changeover regulator affects an RV’s propane delivery system.
• Sue Rasmussen, the owner of Royal Flush RV Services, described three common problems with RV black and gray water tanks.
• Chris Wilson, NRVTA’s generator instructor, demonstrated a complete teardown of the most common Onan generator carburetors.

What makes the expo so unique is that certified RV technicians and inspectors are participating in training their peers, Mitchell said. In fact, people seeking credentials as master certified RV inspectors are required to make a presentation at a trade event, she added.

Cantrell said his presentation on customer development was very important for inspectors to grasp because they need to become advocates for their clients.

“People are making a very large purchase, which means they are excited and terrified at the same time,” he explained. “It’s the inspector’s job to calm their fears and help them to make informed decisions. Some of our customers do not live anywhere near the location of an RV they’re thinking of purchasing, so they rely on us to serve as their eyes and ears. We are not going to tell our customers what to do, but we will provide them all the information they’ll need to be comfortable with whatever buying decision they make.”

Although Cantrell said he prefers meeting in-person simply for the networking conversations that take place between sessions, this year’s virtual format was helpful, too.

“It’s often difficult for small business owners to uproot their schedules and take a week off from work to attend a live event,” he explained. “Personally, I liked having everything recorded so I could either listen to sessions as they were presented live or listen later at a time that was more convenient for me.”

After noticing a lot of questions in the association’s Facebook group about RV suspensions and chassis, Hendricks focused his presentation on things to look for when visually inspecting that equipment. His background as a firefighter and partner in a four-wheel drive shop as well as experience working in an automotive body shop helped him to better understand the intricacies of a chassis.

“My presentation zeroed in on the basic components of front and rear suspension systems for motorized units as well as suspension systems on towable RVs,” he explained. “I saw a need among inspectors for more information on that topic and I had some knowledge I felt would be helpful to others. So I worked with the NRVIA staff to be part of the solution to help inspectors better understand and grow their businesses.

“I’m used to walking around a chassis and talking about things, so giving a presentation in front of a screen was different for me,” said Hendricks. “But, I had a good time doing it and especially liked the ability to get live feedback and respond to questions.”

NRVIA and RVTAA are more than just organizations, Cantrell explained. They exist to help technicians and inspectors.

“There is a constant flow of information from the associations to members. That makes us aware of things trending in the RV industry and inspection businesses,” he added. “It was helpful to have such a diverse group of presenters – everyone from active inspectors and technicians as well as industry captains and representatives of various companies. They gave us the straight scoop about equipment we’ll encounter in the field.”

The 2022 Expo was sponsored by these organizations:

• Tom Manning & Associates, a company representing 18 RV supplier firms that produce and sell components commonly found in RVs.
• Miller Farrell Insurance Agency, which provides professional liability coverage for technicians and inspectors.
• Road Life Project, which works to make parts available to NRVIA and RVTAA members at discounted prices.
• HomeGauge, which developed inspection-specific software to aid inspectors in completing final reports.

For more information about becoming a certified professional, inspectors can visit www.nrvia.org, email [email protected] or call 855-472-9948. RV technicians can visit www.rvtaa.org, email [email protected] or call 903-386-4466.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/organizers-say-rv-tech-inspector-expo-went-very-well/