Industry Awards Highlight 1st Day of RVs Move America Week

WASHINGTON D.C. – Highlighting a jam-packed first day of committee meetings to kick off RVs Move America Week, which is hosted by the RV Industry Association (RVIA) at The Mayflower Hotel in the Washington D.C., Arizona-based dealer Debbie Brunoforte was recognized with the David J. Humphreys RV Industry Unity Award.

With approximately 215 RV industry insiders in attendance, RVs Move America Week continues today with additional committee meetings before culminating Wednesday with Advocacy Day, when participants will lobby Congress on matters of importance to the RV industry.

Brunoforte, president of Little Dealer Little Prices, a Campers Inn company, was one of three individuals recognized Monday for their contributions to the RV industry. Other award recipients were Mike Becker, the head of compliance at Forest River, who received the Distinguished Achievement in RV Standards, as well as RV Dealers Association (RVDA) President Phil Ingrassia, who was honored with the National Education Service Award.

The Unity Award recognizes an individual who continuously strives to encourage the multiple constituencies of the RV industry to work collectively for the growth and betterment of the industry.

“Debbie personifies the spirit of the Unity Award through her work as the longtime president of Little Dealer, Little Prices, now a Campers Inn company, and in her volunteer service on many industry organizations,” said RVIA Chairman Kevin McArt, a general manager at Forest River Inc. “She has always championed the belief that the RV industry is strongest when it works together.”

Brunoforte is also a past RV Dealers Association (RVDA) Chairman of the Board. She was recognized with that association’s highest honor, the James B. Summers Award, in 2014. In addition, Brunoforte is a longtime member of the Go RVing Coalition and played an instrumental role in forming the Arizona RV Dealers Association. In 2014, she was inducted in the RV/MH Hall of Fame and was the inaugural recipient of the RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA) RV Trailblazer Award for lifetime achievement earlier this year. Brunoforte continues to work on the industry’s behalf through her continuing service as a member of the RVDA Board of Delegates as a participating past chairman.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be receiving an award for Unity, because together, we really are better. That’s how we are our best, and it’s important for the industry to work together and to work with unity. That’s how we do our best work,” Brunoforte told RVBusiness.

“And, in the day-to-day of fray of work, it’s easy to forget the importance and the value that we create,” she continued. “Our industry is so important to society. We enable people to enjoy the beauty and nature – and RVs provide adventure, freedom, affordability, lifelong memories.

“I think it’s important for people to get together, because when you get together and you get to know each other,” Brunoforte added. “Then it builds a level of trust and it builds free flow of communication where we can go ahead and be honest with each other and express the challenges and difficulties of each segment.

“We’re all here together. One of the greatest goals that we can work on is improving the consumer experience. And I believe that. I imagine that all of us in the industry, we really do have a desire to make a positive impact. And if you’re in the RV industry, you do. We all do,” she concluded.

In 2014, Campers Inn RV CEO Jeff Hirsch also earned the David J. Humphreys RV Industry Unity Award.

The Distinguished Achievement in RV Standards recognizes an individual who has contributed to the enhancement of RV standards in the industry, McArt explained before calling Becker to the stage.

“Mike has been a key member of our Technical Subcommittees for many years and has contributed considerable expertise and guidance to the group,” said McArt. “He has served as an ambassador for the outreach and training for the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards recall reporting and responsibilities, and currently Chairs the Regulatory and Safety Subcommittee.”

In addition, Becker has served on and provided technical input for the Standards Steering Committee and RV-C committee, while also serving as his chair’s alternate for the National Fire Protection Agency 1192 Standard. His commitment to improving safety by serving and assisting in the development of standards, enforcement positions and policies has greatly assisted the Standards Department and is respected by his colleagues in the RV industry, McArt added.

Ingrassia was recognized with the National Education Service Award, who McArt said has “championed industry education programs and technician training throughout his entire career. Most recently, he was a driving force in the creation and execution of the RV Technical Institute.”

“As one of the organization’s original board members, he aided in the success of the RV Technical Institute’s 2022 recruitment goals by assisting with strategic planning, attending recruiting events, promoting the Institute through RV Dealers Association channels and events, and always working to advance technician training and certification,” McArt continued.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/industry-awards-highlight-1st-day-of-rvs-move-america-week/