RVDA Honors the Past and Future During Convention/Expo – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
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LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The busiest day of the 2023 RV Dealers Convention/Expo saw both the next generation of dealers take their place in leadership as well as the previous generation being honored for its contributions.
Ryan Horsey of Parkview RV Center in Smyrna, Del., was named the chairman of the RV Dealers Association (RVDA) for 2024 during the Wednesday, Nov. 8, annual RV Dealers Convention/Expo at Paris Las Vegas. Horsey’s father, Rick, was chairman of the board in 1997-98. Hosted by the RVDA, RVDA of Canada and the Mike Molino RV Learning Center, the Convention/Expo runs through Friday.
Jeff Hirsch, of Campers Inn, left, accepts his Chairman’s Service Award.
“Parkview was originally founded on my grandparents’ property,” Horsey said. “These two individuals created a legacy of culture filled with passion, dedication and discipline for our customers, associates and business partners. (Grandpa) would go to work as a sales manager for Ford-Lincoln-Mercury while (Grandma) put four kids on a school bus and proceeded to open the doors to the inventory and parking.”
Horsey succeeds Nathan Hart of Walnut Ridge Family RV Sales in New Castle, Ind., who will remain on the board as immediate past chairman.
Another second-generation officer, Larry Troutt III of Topper’s Camping Center in Waller, Texas, was named first vice chair. Troutt’s father, Larry II, was chairman in 2008-09.
The rest of the slate of officers includes: Second Vice Chair Bob Been of Blue Compass RV in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Treasurer Brad Bacon of PleasureLand RV Center in St. Cloud, Minn.; and Secretary Lane Bell of Bell Camper Sales in Bartlesville, Okla.
New Board of Directors members are: Travis Creech of Rex & Sons RV in Wilmington, N.C.; and LaDonna Meadows of Tacoma RV Center in Tacoma, Wash. They join Frank Roberts of Longview RV Superstores, Windsor Locks, Conn.
Also included are: RV Assistance Corporation Chairman Jeff Hirsch, Campers Inn, Jacksonville, Fla.; RV Rental Association Chairman Scott Krenek, Krenek RV Center, Coloma, Mich.; and RV Learning Center Chairman Jeff Pastore, Hartville RV Center, Hartville, Ohio. RVDA President Phil Ingrassia continues as a non-voting member of the Board.
Dan Pearson’s daughter Whitney (middle) accepts the Titan Award on behalf of her late father
In honoring the previous generation, RVDA Titan Awards were presented to Sherman Goldenberg, former co-owner of RVBusiness Magazine, and to the daughter of the late Don Pearson of PleasureLand RV.
“For more than 30 years, Sherman has been the force behind the publications RVBusiness, Woodall’s Campground Management and their related digital media outlets,” said Hart. “Following a change in 2011 that could have swept these important media properties into the dustbin of history, Sherman assembled a team of journalists and media professionals to take over the publications. The result is a media company that is continuing to grow with the RV industry for national audience in the RV industry to dealers, suppliers, finance companies and public and private campgrounds.”
Sherman Goldenberg, RVBusiness senior editor, accepts a Titan Award.
Following the Top 50 Dealer Awards, it was announced that a new award – the 2024 Sherman Goldenberg Digital Marketing Award, sponsored by RV Trader – will be created next year to honor companies and individuals making strides in marketing the industry.
In February, it was announced that G&G Media Group LLC, the Elkhart, Ind.-based publisher of RVBusiness and Woodall’s Campground Magazine, changed hands when co-owners Goldenberg and Gregg Fore sold their respective interests in the industry-leading trade journals to RVB Executive Editor Rick Kessler and former Statistical Surveys Inc. General Manager Scott Stropkai.
Hart urged those in attendance to continue efforts to improve Repair Event Cycle Time, although he acknowledged some get tired of hearing the same exhortations.
He also said the industry at large needs to remain involved in and grow its influence in the growing outdoor recreation industry.
“It’s more important than ever that the dealers and the RV industry demonstrate leadership to the larger outdoor recreation community at the national and state level to improve the number and quality of public campsites across the country,” he said.
Mike Regan, right, was awarded RVDA’s highest honor, the JBS award, at the annual meeting.
During the morning session, Chairman’s Service Awards also were presented to Chris Andro of Hemlock Hill RV, Jeff Hirsch of Campers Inn, Bob Martin of Thor Industries and Ryan Horsey.
Dave Russell, who recently retired from BMO, received an RVDA Special Award.
Mike Regan of Crestview RV in Buda, Texas, was presented with RVDA’s most prestigious honor, the James B Summers Award.
Honors at the Top 50 Dealer Awards went to Blue Ribbon winners Bent’s RV, Campers Inn RV, Greeneway RV Sales & Service, Pleasureland RV Center and Voyager RV Centre.
The Gaylord A. Maxwell Innovation Award went to Great American RV SuperStores and the Arthur J. Decio Humanitarian Award was presented to Gib’s RV Superstore.
The 2024 RV Dealers Convention/Expo is scheduled for Nov. 11-15, 2024, at Paris Las Vegas.
Source: https://rvbusiness.com/rvda-honors-the-past-and-future-during-convention-expo/
