Hundreds Gather for 2023 RV/MH Hall of Fame Induction – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News

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Surrounded by hundreds of friends, family and colleagues, the Class of 2023 was inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame Monday, Aug. 21, in a song-filled ceremony at the Northern Indiana Event Center in Elkhart, Ind.

The 51st annual ceremony also included a posthumous presentation of the Darryl Searer Spirit Award to U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, as well as special recognition of former Fleetwood Enterprises and Monaco Coach executive Jim Sheldon, a member of the 2021 Hall of Fame induction class.

In addition, Darryl Searer and Ryan Szklarek, president and executive vice president, respectively, of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, offered a video presentation on the health of the Hall of Fame. In short, the Hall of Fame will likely set a new record this year with over 40,000 paid visitors, the Scoular MH Museum recently opened to rave reviews, and the 36,000-square-foot event center expansion is well underway.

“The Hall is making a concerted effort to work diligently in strategizing and looking out for the future prosperity of our organization. All can agree that the future is looking brighter than ever,” Szklarek stated in the video.

Following that presentation was the induction of the Class of 2023.

From left, Ryan Szklarek and Darryl Searer of the RV/MH Hall of Fame, Martha Walorski and Dean Swihart, the mother and husband, respectively, of U.S. Rep Jackie Walorski, and Don Gunden of Forest River Inc. (Photos by Shawn Spence)

Darryl Searer Spirit Award: U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski

The Darryl Searer Spirit Award was given posthumously to U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, who died in a traffic crash in 2022. A founding member of the RV Caucus in the House of Representatives, Walorski was known as a “friend to the industry,” said Don Gunden, a Forest River Inc. group general manager who presented the award to Walorski’s mother and husband.

“Jackie was a champion of numerous RV and mobile home-related endeavors on behalf of the people and businesses in her district,” Gunden said. “She made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the RV industry. Her service and achievements were exceptional and framed with passion. She said, ‘It’s an honor to represent the RV capitol of the world.’ When addressing a group of RV industry management, she also said, ‘Please know I have your back in Washington DC.’

“She was a defender and a champion of the people and the businesses she represented. She was our advocate, and she was also, as I said earlier, our friend. She was a friend of the RV and Mobile Home industries and she was a friend of mine,” he said.

Jeri and Forrest Bone

Forrest and Jeri Ann Bone, Tin Can Tourists Club

Forrest and Jeri Bone originally started working with the Vintage Airstream Club, where Forrest was president, but as their love grew for vintage RVs, they were instrumental in helping revive the Tin Can Tourists (TCT), a vintage camper owners club that can trace its roots to 1919.

A very large contingent of TCT members were in the audience, and they serenaded the Bones as they made their way to the podium by singing TCT’s motto, “The More We Get Together,” which the Bones would later reprise as they finished their acceptance speech.

“We would like to acknowledge the Tin Can Tourists and the Vintage Airstream attendees, of which there are many, and to travel many miles to get here for today’s induction,” Forrest Bone said.

“Recent research since Covid indicates that social connections make people happier … ‘The more we get together, together, together, the more we get together the happier we’ll be, ’cause your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends. The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.’”

Ron Breymier with Heritage Foundation board chairman Debbie Brunoforte of Little Dealer Little Pirces, a Campers Inn RV company, who presented each RV industry inductee with their Hall of Fame plaques.

Ron Breymier Indiana Manufactured Housing Association & Recreational Vehicle Indiana Council (INHA-RVIC)

Ron Breymier has been the executive director of the Indiana Manufactured Housing Association, Recreational Vehicle Indiana Council (INHA-RVIC) since 2015. He previously served as its executive director for five years from 1986 to 1991.

A current board member of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, he was previously on the board when the industry developed the Hall of Fame and museum here in Elkhart. He is a partner in LegisGroup, a government relations firm representing the RV and manufactured housing industries in the state of Indiana.

During the COVID outbreak, Breymier worked with the governor’s office to assure RV manufacturers and dealers were essential businesses that could stay open, and that campgrounds could open before Memorial Day weekend. He restructured the IMHA board to provide equal representation to both industries.

“I’ve worked with the Indiana State Senate and the House of Representative staff in Indiana. I’ve worked for the United States Senate, and I’ve been a lobbyist for nearly 30 years. But being in the RV and manufactured housing industries, means so much to me,” he said.

“I was raised in a manufactured home, on a farm in Jay County, Indiana. So, the manufactured housing side, it means a lot. We did a lot of camping as well in my youth, so I was attracted to the RV industry,” he continued.

“I was really fortunate to be hired by Hall of Famer Vern Sailor of Sailor Manufacturing, who brought me into the industry. They asked me the question, ‘Well, Ron, we’re an association, and we don’t make decisions very quickly.’ I said, ‘You guys can’t tell me you guys are slower than the United States Senate.’”

Before Breymier was allowed to leave the stage, a group of Indiana legislators took to the podium and presented him with a Sagamore of the Wabash award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the state government and is presented to persons who have rendered a distinguished service to the state.

Tom Manning Jr.

Tom Manning Jr., Manning & Associates and AP Products

Manning his career journey studying electrical engineering and as a technician at Texas Instruments. He then joined his father’s business, Tom Manning and Associates, in 1985 as a sales representative, later becoming its president.

Manning has been active in the RV Aftermarket Association and has served in a voluntary capacity as an RVAA executive committee member, and a COHO Gathering sponsor. He was awarded the RV aftermarket segment’s highest honor in 2013 with the Jim Barker Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I look around and I see a lot of nice familiar faces,” Manning said. “When you look around at an industry and you see who they are and you see the genuine real people that are here being honored, then you know it’s a kind industry. It’s a warm industry, and it’s about the people. The people make the difference.

“Dad has taught me a lot of different adages over the years, and I need to thank him and my mother for teaching me that people are first,” he continued. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a banker, you’re in the people business. It doesn’t matter if you’re a teacher, you’re in the people business. If you’re in the RV industry, you’re definitely in the people business. Whether it’s reflected in the warmhearted people of a user group, consumer group that show their love and compassion and joy getting together.

“That’s what the RV industry is about, and that’s what’s been so wonderful about working all these years in the RV industry.”

Karen Redfern

Karen Redfern, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing and Communications for Go RVing

Redfern has spent more than 30 years in the RV industry and has been instrumental of the success of the Go RVing program. She is a member of the Campground Modernization Task Force, and helped establish the RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA).

She served three years as Director of Education at the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (National ARVC), has been a frequent speaker at campground and state RV conventions, won the 2019 Darryl Searer Spirit Award from the RV/MH Hall of Fame, the Silver REGGIE Award in 2020, and the Online Media Marketing Advertising Travel and Tourism Award in 2021. She has also captured three National Mercury Radio Awards.

“I am unbelievably humbled to be here today among the industry’s inductees past and those of you in your own right who are champions and industry innovators here,” Redfern said.

“The best part of it is that I truly get to work with incredible people,” she continued. “I’ve watched Go RVing evolve from an idea in the industry to the industry leading national marketing campaign that it’s become today. It’s been an amazing journey to lead the marketing efforts, where we went from billboards and magazine ads to the digital campaigns that we have today. So, what the program has evolved into is really even more than I ever imagined.”

“One phrase, which is ‘often imitated but rarely duplicated,’ really comes to mind, because it defines what the Go RVing program is about,” she added. “Countless industries have tried to launch similar programs and few have succeeded. Why? Because we are a truly unique industry, because each and every one of you believes that the tides rise all ships. Fierce competitors at the core, each of you are, but you’re willing to work together for the betterment of the industry in reaching new consumers.

“So, I thank each of you for allowing me to be your messenger to the consumers through the program.”

Tim Veurink

Tim Veurink, Veurink’s RV Center

Veurink started washing Holiday Rambler trailers for his dad’s dealership, in 1971, and sold his first RV in 1972. He worked his way up to sales manager, general manager, and finally to his current role, as president and owner of Veurink’s RV.

He has contributed a great deal of time to the RV Technical Institute (RVTI), and served as RV Dealers Association (RVDA) President in Michigan. He participated in Holiday Rambler and Monaco, K2 Dealer advisory groups, and as National RVDS delegate.

Veruink has also won many awards for his work in the RV industry, including the Gaylord Maxwell Innovation Award – twice – as part of the RVBusiness Top 50 Dealers Awards program, the Flying W Winnebago Award, and several KZ Diamond Dealer awards.

“I doubt I have the best RV resume. However, as an old guy, I may have the most extended resume,” he said. “When I was born, my family was already in the RV business for four years. I got my first paycheck before I was age 12 and, as mentioned, I’d sold my first RV at 14. Ultimately, the RV business has allowed me to be part of something that I love and enjoy, and along the way I’ve met a lot of amazing people, and built many, very special relationships.

“So, when it comes to people, relationships, and RVs, I just want leave you with this one last thing … and my hero, Jesus, said it best. He says that we are to be a light to the world, like a lighted city on the hill, that cannot be hidden. We are to reflect God’s virtues, that’s what He said, in what we do, including business,” he said.

In addition, there was a special recognition for Jim Sheldon, a member of the 2021 Hall of Fame induction class, who due to COVID had been unable to attend the last few ceremonies. Other obligations prevented him from attending Monday night’s event, but nonetheless Sheldon’s accomplishments at Fleetwood Enterprises and Monaco Coach and his Hall of Fame induction were celebrated.

“His ability to keep competitors and industry partners moving in unison, taking the overall industry to new heights, is what really sets him apart,” said emcee Gary Sieber. “Jim’s contributions include being the original chairman of the Committee on Excellence, a group focused on improving customer service.

“Jim has been a dedicated industry statesman throughout his entire career and has left an indelible mark on the industry by improving customer service, leading the Committee on Excellence, being a founding member of the Go RVing Coalition, testifying against unreasonable regulations, and unifying the industry through his leadership,” Sieber said.

MH Hall of Fame inductees: