Respected Names Highlight 2024 RV/MH Hall of Fame Inductees – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News

RV Business

Featuring some well-known figures in the RV and manufactured housing industries, the 2024 RV/MH Hall of Fame Class of Inductees was announced today

On Dec. 11, both the RV and MH selection committees hosted secret meetings with panels full of anonymous industry leaders, and they were able to decide on who will be honored in the 2024 class of RV/MH Hall of Fame inductees, according to a release. The committees take great pride in analyzing each nomination form in detail in order to ensure the integrity of the process and select the most deserving nominees. Each and every new inductee has already been notified and was thrilled to become a part of this illustrious fraternity of Hall of Famers.

In the words of Hall of Fame President Darryl Searer, “Please come help us to celebrate this well deserving group of inductees on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana! I am certain that this year’s ceremony will be the epitome of what the Hall of Fame represents, and I could not be more excited to celebrate this incredible class along with their family, friends, colleagues, and other members of the industries.”

Registration is now open, and we encourage everyone to reserve their seat or table early as this event continues to grow each year. Please visit the website for more information or to make your reservation at: www.rvmhhalloffame.org/2024_rsvp/

The following industry members will be celebrated among the 2024 class of inductees:

RV Class

Don Clark

Don Clark – Manufacturer – Grand Design – Elkhart, Indiana

Don Clark has nearly 40 years of successful RV industry experience with a proven track record of leading and growing companies throughout the industry. His history includes: distressed company turnarounds, successful startups, and growing people and businesses. Prior to co-founding Grand Design with brothers Ron and Bill Fenech in 2012, Clark was president of Dutchmen RV and successfully led the turnaround of the THOR Industries subsidiary. His experience also includes being part of the owner/management team that helped drive Keystone RV Co. to become the largest towable manufacturer in the world. Most recently, Clark has led Grand Design RV to become one of the fastest growing RV manufacturers in the history of the industry.

Terry Elias – Manufacturer – Triple E RV – Manitoba, Canada

Terry Elias

Elias is CEO of Triple E Recreational Vehicles, a division of Triple E Canada, a Canadian recreational vehicle manufacturing company located in Winkler, Manitoba that was established in 1965. Triple E RV manufactures class B and C motorhomes. Leisure Travel Vans is a brand of Triple E Recreational Vehicles. He also is President & Chief Executive Officer at Lode King Industries in Canada.Founded in 1980 in Winkler, Manitoba, Lode King Industries has developed from a small manufacturer of hopper-bottom grain trailers into one of Canadas largest manufacturers of commercial highway transport trailers. In 2016, Elias was honored as the Winkler, Man., Community Foundation “Citizen of the Year.” He was lauded for years of “quietly contributing to the community,” in his pivotal role with Lode King and Triple E. He was described as having a deep commitment to his employees, creating an empowering working environment and embodying the values of his grandfather and Triple E founder P.W Enns. He was also a key player in the Cedars Estates housing project on Main Street, in Winkler, one he calls his proudest accomplishment.

Phil Ingrassia

Phil Ingrassia – Association – RVDA – Fairfax, Virginia

Phil Ingrassia has been the president of the RV Dealers Association (RVDA) since 2012. RVDA is the national association representing the interests of RV dealers, rental companies, and RV aftermarket stores. Before becoming RVDA president, Ingrassia served as the association’s vice president for communications starting in 2002 after having joined the RVDA staff in 1996. In that capacity, he supervised the association’s membership, industry relations, market expansion and communications programs. He also served as RVDA’s staff liaison to the Go RVing Coalition. He earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2005. In addition, Ingrassia is the past chair of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) and is a member of the organization’s board of directors.

Jeff Rutherford

Jeff Rutherford – Supplier – Airxcel – Elkhart, Indiana

Jeff Rutherford has enjoyed a long and successful career in the North American RV industry. Following eight years as vice president of Carefree of Colorado and nine more years as the company’s president, Rutherford joined Airxcel in June of 2013 assuming role of chief operating officer. He was promoted to president in 2015, and was named chief executive officer the following year, succeeding company founder Mel Adams who retired following a 25-year tenure. In November, Rutherford moved on to become chairman at Airxcel. In addition, Rutherford is the past chairman of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).

Brian Wilkins

Brian Wilkins – Dealer – Wilkin’s RV – Hornell, New York

Brian Wilkins, is the third-generation owner of Wilkins RV Inc., headquartered in Bath, NY. His experience with the RV industry started at an early age, having worked in his family’s dealership after school. In 2004, he acquired the family dealership from his father, and has grown the single-location business to seven storefronts, all in New York. Wilkins served as chairman of the RV Dealers Association (RVDA) in 2016, and in 2022 he received RVDA’s James B. Summer award, the highest honor the association presents. He has a long record of serving RVDA, having also served as chairman of the Mike Molino RV Learning Center Program Oversight Committee, as a member of the Tech Certification Board, and as a member of RVDA’s board of directors and board of delegates.

The 2024 class of manufactured housing inductees includes: