In Tow with RV PRO: Recent Episodes
RV PRO Magazine
In Tow with RV PRO is a business-to-business podcast series covering an array of topics in the RV world. It features dealers, industry leaders, and other personalities who share their experiences, ideas and tips to help successfully navigate our ever-evolving industry. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Email our multimedia content manager, Drew Cooper, at dcooper@nbm.com.
The RV industry is, at its heart, about helping people have fun. For the vast majority of RV buyers, a dealership is their first entry into the lifestyle. Sometimes, relationships are formed that last years, if not generations. Phil Ingrassia is president of the RV Dealers Association and represents those dealers, whether it’s a husband-and-wife operation on a 2-acre lot or a dealer with 300 units onsite. Who better to talk to about what’s on dealers’ minds at the moment than the person that works with them every day?
EV technology continues to evolve, and Volta Power Systems is among the companies pushing for its increased adoption into the RV world. Advancements are being made every day and Jon Mulder, vice president of sales for Volta, is bullish on EVs’ future and the technology’s ability to deliver the power that RVers want in an efficient, safe and effective manner. And thankfully, he’s got a talent for explaining this complex subject so even a podcast host can understand it!
The RV and camping industries have always been married at the hip. Not everyone wants to go off-grid, and when you decide to camp at a KOA instead of, say, a private campground, you can expect a certain level of comfort and service that Kampgrounds of America has refined over the past six decades. President and CEO Toby O’Rourke guides this venerable company and knows that outdoor enthusiasts have choices in where they stay. And the company has so much more to offer these days than just a firepit and a spot to put an RV or a tent.
NeVelle Skaggs’ exposure to RVs dates back to camping with his family when he was a kid, and then in high school working in a dealership, starting out cleaning and detailing and eventually doing PDIs. In 1983 he launched Skaggs RV Outlet in his home state of Kentucky, and then a few years later his wife gave birth to the person that sits in the general manager’s chair today – his daughter, Alexis. It was an indirect route to finding her career but she was quickly hooked. She relishes the ability she and her staff have to play a key role in their customers’ happiness. Listening to her pop, you won’t wonder where that attitude comes from. Like father, like daughter.
The past few years have been record breaking for Performance Brokerage Services, a family-owned company specializing in brokering the buying and selling of dealerships of all types. Jesse Stopnitzky heads up the RV and marine division for the company, and said that the past three years was a time of unprecedented activity in terms of dealerships changing hands. That time has passed, he said, but it’s far from come to a halt – things now are just different. In terms of the inside scoop on where M&A activity stands today, the summer of ’23, you can’t get a better perspective than Jesse’s.
As head of the RV and marine division for Wells Fargo, Chad Lyon had a ringside seat to the chaos created in the industry during the height of COVID-19 and its aftermath. It was a boom unlike the industry had ever seen before, but almost just as quickly the days of record shipments every month faded away and returned to something more resembling pre-COVID days. But even today, in the summer of 2023, the shadow of the pandemic hasn’t completely faded away. Lyon’s job it to make sense of it all, and that’s what he did for us here on In Tow with RV PRO.
Darry Searer stepped in to run the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana, more than a decade ago at a time when many people had written the hall off as all but dead – it was loaded down by debt with no realistic prospects of digging its way out. But the industry veteran accepted the challenge ¬– working pro bono – and methodically turned it around to where it is today: fiscally healthy and expanding. We caught up with Darryl in advance of the two biggest events on the hall’s calendar: the induction of the Class of 2023 in August and the Suppliers Show that coincides with Open House Week in late September.
Many different elements go into establishing and maintaining a successful dealership, but at the core is the parts and service department. “Fixed operations” – as they’re called – are all consultant Don Reed and his company, DealerPRO Training, are concerned with. For him, an effective fixed ops department can make – and just as easily break – an otherwise strong operation. He’ll explain his fascination with fixed ops and why they are so critical to a healthy dealership.
Sponsored by Blue Ox
Jack Kay is president and CEO of Torklift, a company specializing in hitch and tow-related products that was founded by his late father, Jon, and recently celebrated the 47th anniversary of its launch. Lots of business owners say they put their people first, but top to bottom Torklift really does take a different approach with its staff. Kay said that not only leads to happier employees but it helps drive the constant innovation so necessary in such a competitive field.
Decades ago, LaDonna Meadows applied for a job that turned into a successful career. Meadows founded Tacoma RV Center in Tacoma, Washington, 34 years ago, and her roots in the industry go back another decade-plus from that. Like so many others, she was bit by the RV bug and never looked back. Meadows has a simple yet effective philosophy about how she runs her store, both in terms of the customers and her employees. She’ll share what she’s learned and offer her perspective on women in the RV industry then and now.
She doesn’t have hands-on involvement in all the many activities of the RV Industry Association (RVIA), but it’s her job to speak with authority about all of them. Monika Geraci has been with RVIA for 13 years and has one of those official titles – director of public relations and communications – that only hints at the breadth of her day-to-day duties. Geraci is a reliable voice for the industry as well as being one of its biggest champions. During May, RV PRO is saluting women of the RV industry and Geraci graciously joined us to share her story.
The founder and president of Krenek RV in Coloma, Michigan, Scott Krenek is a long-time advocate of dealerships renting, as well selling, RVs. So much so he even started a loose affiliation of dealers way back in 1995 and it’s still going strong. Group members discuss best practices and ways that they can maximize their rental fleets to reap the most profits while making sure they always leave a customer satisfied. Krenek has also spent the past decade-plus as chairman of the RV Rental Association, which is affiliated with the RV Dealers Association.
Jason Bontrager is the founder and CEO of Bontrager Outdoors, a relatively new RV maker on the scene that currently has two companies under its umbrella: Skinny Guy Campers and Braxton Creek. The grandson of the founders of Jayco, Jason has grown up in the industry and, after sitting out a non-compete clause, he and his cousin, Austin, launched Bontrager Outdoors and he and a dealer friend designed their first Skinny Guy – a towable with a firm nod toward the overlanding market. Then earlier this year it was the Braxton Creek pickup. What’s next for this 44-year-old who built his first RV in a barn, just like his grandfather? We’ll find out on In Tow with RV PRO.
Tom Kline, founder and lead consultant for Better Vantage Point, a dealership consultancy, said he’s always disappointed when he hears the old excuse from dealers, “It’ll never happen to me,” in reference to someone finding themselves in hot water for non-compliance of government regulations. His response? “It’s going to happen to someone – why not you?” Kline’s company specializes in compliance issues and risk management and said there is no reason for dealerships not to devote resources and staff time to making sure the rules are followed. The risks dealers take in ignoring them is just not worth the potential penalties.
Lithium-ion batteries are not new to the RV world, but their popularity in it is growing. What was a few select motorized manufacturers offering lithium-ion technology not long ago has blossomed into more widespread use. Some towable manufacturers are offering lithium-ion and solar packages as options or even standard in some cases, and as the pandemic has brought new demographics into the lifestyle, those consumers are responding to this alternative to lead-acid batteries. Wade Seaburg is chief revenue officer for Dragonfly Energy and he discusses where lithium-ion technology has been and where it’s going.
The day after he graduated college as a Michigan Wolverine, John Sammut’s professional path took a detour. He traded in an education steering him toward beakers and test tubes to one that would lead him ultimately into the world of RVs. Twenty-six years in the industry – nearly 20 of those with Newmar – and Sammut – the “u” is long – is just weeks away from retirement. He’s happy to share his insights and perspective from the past decades, just don’t ask him too much about his retirement plans. Newmar has its annual owners meeting soon, so there’s more work to be done.
Fun Town RV’s founder and CEO, Jarrod McGhee, follows his own path. Since getting into the RV business he has built himself a mini-empire, with dealerships in multiple states and bragging rights to being the No. 1 towables seller in the country in many of the years since he launched. From quoting renowned business books to explaining why lead, and not lag, indicators matter to him, McGhee pulls no punches because, well, he doesn’t have to. He has his formula down pat and it’s been working just fine for him.
COVID-19 delivered a wave to the RV industry that no one could have foreseen even a couple of months before it happened, and the result was two record-setting years that may never be repeated again. Now that production levels are settling down, the RV Industry Association’s Craig Kirby shares with us his thoughts on what the past couple years have taught us and what roads lie ahead that will ensure the health of the industry remains strong well into this current century. It’s a “new normal,” and the future is bright.
By all accounts 2023 is the year that things return to normal, but the past couple of years have been anything but. Who better to give us a new year’s perspective than a man who has been a part of the industry for nearly three decades? Bob Zagami is executive director of the New England RV Dealers Association and principal consultant at RV Insights. He shares his insights into an historic period in the industry and gives us things to look for as we settle in for 2023. His opinions aren’t always popular, but they are informed and they are genuine.This episode is sponsored by Blue Ox.
The RV Technical Institute was founded by an industry-wide effort to get more RV technicians working in the field, the goal being to reduce Repair Event Cycle Time and deliver a happier ownership experience for the RVer. After a bumpy launch – thanks to COVID 19 – the institute has finally settled in to fulfilling its mission of keeping that technician pipeline flowing.This episode is sponsored by Blue Ox
The care and feeding of a customer, whether you’re an OEM or a dealer, is not as it once was, and Bernie Brenner, co-founder and CEO of Rollick, has had a ringside seat to that evolution throughout his career. Brenner talks about customer engagement now vs. then, why “nurturing” should be in your vocabulary and why Sumos matter. Yes, Sumos.
This episode is sponsored by Rollick
Jennifer Mercer is director of development for Care Camps, a nonprofit organization that exists to offer kids going through cancer – and their families – the opportunity to experience nature, at whatever level their illness will allow. What started as the brainchild of a few KOA franchisees has grown to encompass camps all across the country that host and care for kids and families at all stages of their illness. The Care Camps mission: “To give joy, hope, and healing power of the outdoors to children with cancer and their families at a specialized oncology camp.”
Bernie Brenner is the CEO and chairman of the board of Rollick, a technology company focused specifically on the buying and selling of RVs (and marine, powersports, etc). Buying an RV will always end in that personal, one-on-one connection between customer and dealer, but Brenner said that highly sophisticated technology can go a long way in helping streamline the transaction. Tech tools are here to stay in the RV world, and here is why they matter.
This episode is sponsored by Rollick
Phil Ingrassia, president of the RV Dealers Association, discusses the lessons dealers learned during the pandemic and what they are doing now to keep their stores operating at a high level, as they’ve been doing the past couple years. He also talks about the effect that first-time buyers have had on the industry and how dealers have responded to that influx, and he’ll offer a sneak-peak at what’s coming at next month’s RVDA Convention/Expo in Las Vegas.
This episode is sponsored by Blue Ox.
Eric Lawrence is the principle automotive analyst for the specialty vehicles division of Black Book and has been putting out monthly wholesale price reports for the RV industry since 2010. The past couple of years have been an unprecedented time in the industry and it’s just now getting back to a pre-pandemic normal. Lawrence shares his perspective on the wild fluctuations and how this period stacks stacks up to history, and he points to some indicators he watches to try to gauge what might be coming in the future.
This episode is sponsored by Star brite
Eric Lawrence is the principle automotive analyst for the specialty vehicles division of Black Book and has been putting out monthly wholesale price reports for the RV industry since 2010. The past couple of years have been an unprecedented time in the industry and it’s just now getting back to a pre-pandemic normal. Lawrence shares his perspective on the wild fluctuations and how this period stacks stacks up to history, and he points to some indicators he watches to try to gauge what might be coming in the future.
This episode is sponsored by Star Brite
Jan Kelly, president and founder of Kelly Enterprises, has been consulting RV dealers on proper business conduct for a long time. An expert in F&I, Kelly’s parallel background in sales proves invaluable as she consults dealerships on not only staying in compliance with state and federal regulations, but also in how they can and should use their F&I departments to add to the company’s bottom line and deepen the relationship with the customer. She’s seen it all in her decades in the industry, and she’s not afraid to speak up and tell dealers what they don’t want to hear sometimes.
Hosted and produced by Tony Kindelspire
Seth Trueblood is a purchasing agent for Meyer Distributing and also serves as spokesman for the Indiana-based, family owned company. Few businesses were dealt as many logistical headaches by the COVID-19 pandemic than companies with multiple locations in dozens of states, and Trueblood will walk us through his company’s strategy in getting through that time and then keeping clients happy despite all the supply chain disruptions going on. Always be ready to adapt, Trueblood says.
Ep. 42 – Blending Tradition with A New Way
Ashley Bontrager Lehman is the granddaughter of the founders of Jayco but she’s making her own mark on the industry as founder, president and CEO of Ember Recreational Vehicles. As the head of a core team of four, Lehman and her co-founders set out to launch a different kind of RV company, taking the lessons she learned from her dad and uncles and putting her own spin on its internal and external culture. So far so good – they’ve had no trouble assembling a work force and just celebrated their 1,000th unit built. This episode is sponsored by Blue Ox
Brian Wilkins is president of New York-based Wilkins Recreation Vehicles and a third-generation business owner. From walking to his dad’s dealership after school to stock shelves in fourth grade to today being an owner for almost two decades, Wilkins has seen a lot. He shares his perspectives on life during the crazy past couple of years and where things are now and discusses how leading a successful team means focusing on all the things they can control and not being distracted by the rest.
This episode is sponsored by Star brite
Karen Redfern is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Go RVing, the official marketing arm of the RV industry. She joins us to discuss how first COVID-19 and then the subsequent RVing boom forced her organization to pivot and change its message. She talks about the goals of the organization, how it targets its messaging and highlights how a recent Go RVing radio ad won “best in show” in a competition that featured, among others, McDonald’s and Geico. This episode is sponsored by REDARC.
Jack Enfield is the long-time sales and marketing manager for Elkhart, Indiana-based MORryde, a supplier to the RV industry that got its start a half-century ago building RV suspensions. It’s come a long way since then, and Enfield—who celebrates 34 years with the company this week—will walk us through its history and describe how it has successfully adapted to the changes in the industry, all the while maintaining its well-earned reputation for quality and innovation. Now offering a wide variety of products, the company’s organic growth has come with Enfield right in the middle of most of it.
Kristina Shrider, the head of marketing for Florida’s Giant Recreation World, shares her cerebral, all-in approach to properly marketing a business. Most people aren’t doing it right, she said.
The long-time owner of Wisconsin’s Greeneway RV, Mick Ferkey will be inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame Class of 2022 later this year, and it’s one of many top accolades he has earned. Last year, he received the Hall of Fame’s “Spirit Award,” and also in 2021 he received the James B. Summers Award, considered the highest honor bestowed by the RV Dealers Association. With a planned retirement beginning at the end of this year, Ferkey spent some time on In Tow to discuss work ethic, the importance of treating your team members well and why he feels compelled to spend so much time giving back to the industry. Something, he insists, that won’t stop when he steps away from his day job.
To coincide with our special May "Women in Business" issue, we feature three women of distinction who have very different backgrounds and jobs in the RV industry. Lesley Cochran, president and CEO of Four Seasons RV in Abilene, Kansas; Michilah Grimes, director of corporate and community impact at Lippert; and Mary Pouliot, vice president of sales and marketing for Thetford.
Garry Enyart, soon to be retired from Cummins, said that since his career introduced him to the RV industry years ago, he has been hooked. Some of the friends he’s made along the way, whether they be with OEMs, dealers or suppliers like his company, go back decades, and he’s quick to acknowledge all the visionaries he has learned from over the years. As he prepares to step aside from his day job, he reflects on his efforts working with the RV Dealers Association, the RV Industry Association, and his fellow volunteers who gave their time and effort to try and push the industry forward. One of the many things he’ll be remembered for: introducing “Repair Event Cycle Time” into this industry’s lexicon.
This episode is sponsored by Blue Ox
Chad Lyon is the commercial leader for Wells Fargo’s RV and marine division, and in the year-plus, he’s been in that role with the banking giant he’s had his finger on the pulse of an industry that’s experiencing boom times like it’s never seen. Chad talks about the conversations he has had with dealers and OEMs then and now; how he sees the health of the industry going forward; and what things will look like once the industry cools off to something a little more approaching normal.
This episode is sponsored by Dometic
Lippert Industries is a $4.5 billion company with locations all over the globe, but CEO Jason Lippert said it’s the ability to stay nimble and be able to adapt as necessary that has allowed the company to become as successful as it has. The company, originally founded by his grandfather, serves many industries – not just RVs – but today it is the single biggest supplier of products to the RV market.
As big as it’s gotten, embedded deep into the corporate culture is the concept of giving back, and that’s not something that is ever going to change, Lippert said.
This Episode is sponsored by Star Brite
It’s an exciting time for Way Interglobal, with its ever-expanding mix of innovative appliances for the RV industry and a state-of-the-art new company headquarters. Now if those maddening supply chain issues would just ease up.
The Way Interglobal CEO talks about his company’s journey from having one product offering to today’s diverse lineup of appliances for the RV industry. having developed contacts all around the world – hence the company’s name – Kaylor has a unique perspective on the nagging supply chain issues that have wreaked havoc all across the U.S. economy for many months, particularly in the RV industry.
This episode is sponsored by Tri-Lynx SC
The son of a serial entrepreneur, 28-year-old Jason Haugen of the Haugen RV Group is not only one of the younger dealers out there but in only a few short years he’s turned a struggling dealership around and added seven more stores to his portfolio. The rising star shares his business philosophy and talks about getting through the bumpy early days. If ever there was a natural fit for the RV industry, Jason Haugen of the Haugen RV Group just might be it.
Coley and Ryan Brady, co-founders of Alliance RV, rolled their first unit off the factory floor at almost exactly the same time as a global pandemic hit. Despite that unfortunate timing, the young company has found strong early success with its strategic approach to doing business in a crowded market.
This episode is Sponsored by REDARC
https://redarcelectronics.com/
Mike Hamanishi, president of Samlex America, has been involved in the power generation business for decades and remembers when solar power was still in its infancy. He talks about how the technology has evolved, particularly as it relates to the RV industry, and why it has been gaining in popularity with RVers. He also identifies some of the barriers to its widespread use and predicts when those barriers may finally be broken down for good.
This episode is sponsored by Blue Ox. https://www.blueox.com/
Paul Bambei, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), discusses his organization's mission and how it often coincides with the issues affecting RV dealers and manufacturers. Bambei also talks about how campgrounds are adapting to the times, and offers his predictions on campspot availability for RVers when the upcoming season kicks in.
This episode is sponsored by Dometic.
Jesse Stopnitzky is a partner at Performance Brokerage Services and is the director of that company’s RV division. Serving as an advocate for the dealership owner during the process of a sale or acquisition, Stopnitzky said the sale of an RV dealership is very different than brokering the sale of, for example, a hardware store. Also, why finding the right cultural fit between buyer and seller is so important, and what he sees going forward during what has been an extremely active period of buying and selling.
Jeff Rutherford is CEO of Airxcel, which has carved out a solid niche for itself in the RV industry since being founded in 1991. Overseeing 11 unique companies that manufacture and sell a broad range of products, as well as serving as chairman of the RV Industry Association Board of Directors, gives Rutherford a unique perspective on the unprecedented events that have unfolded over the past 21 months, including supply chain issues.
President Mark Meyer of Meyer’s RV Superstores grew up in the business and then left it for a time after selling his dealership to become one of Camping World’s earliest acquisitions. Fast forward a few years and he was able to buy one store back, then add another, and another. Mark Meyer on the joys and struggles of calling all your own shots.
This episode is sponsored by Furrion.
The president and CEO of the RV Industry Association has been at the center of the industry for a long time and no, he’s never seen anything like this. But how long does Craig Kirby think it will last, and what trends were brought on by COVID that will end up being, in fact, fundamental shifts in the mindsets of consumers? Decades of perspective are what Craig brought to his appearance on In Tow with RV PRO.
This episode is sponsored by Furrion.
Heather Leach, executive director of the Pennsylvania RV and Camping Association, reflects on a successful recent Hershey Show, shares how things are faring in the Keystone State and explains why the PRVCA puts extra emphasis on educating its members and introducing young people to the industry.
This episode is sponsored by REESE Products.
Mike Lanciotti was brought in to oversee REV’s Recreation Group – the company’s RV arm – after it had been without a division president for some time. Since April he’s been making sure all of the brands are driving in the same direction and working to employ manufacturing best practices across each of the company’s facilities.
This episode is sponsored by Furrion.
Frank Tamburrini is the general manager for Integrated Dealer Systems, an RV, marine and trailer dealership software provider, and a long-time advocate for the benefits that technology can bring to a business. But he’s also passionate about making sure the proper training is given so that workers feel empowered to use the technology to save time and improve their bottom line.
This episode is sponsored by Furrion.
One of the few non-Bontragers to run the company over its long history, Ken Walters talks about leading the company into the future while still holding on to the values of the past. He’s discovered in his (relatively) short time there that loyalty is one of the hallmarks of the company – both for its employees and for many of its dealer-partners.
This episode is sponsored by REESE Products.
Bob Wheeler has been president and CEO of Airstream since 2005 and he is well-versed in the company’s history, the value of the iconic ‘silver bullet’ look and the ability to constantly stay on the cutting edge.
This episode is sponsored by Star brite.
Darryl Searer, president of the RV/MH Hall of Fame, talks about the efforts of himself and industry loyalists to save the hall from financial ruin, and how excited he and others are to return to an in-person induction ceremony this year.
This episode is sponsored by Furrion
In conjunction with our special July print issue, in which RV PRO salutes military veterans who are involved in the RV industry, In Tow with RV PRO this week presents three military veterans you’ll enjoy getting to know. Bob Zagami is a U.S. Air Force veteran and is the executive director of the New England RV Dealers Association; Dr. Mary Kelly attended the U.S. Naval Academy and is retired from service as a Navy officer – today she’s a well-known business consultant and speaker at many RV-related events; and Don Reed is the founder of DealerPro Training and a U.S. Army veteran.
This episode is sponsored by Dometic.
Dave Kelly, executive director of the Florida RV Trade Association, talks about getting back to in-person shows, the encouraging news he’s seeing on the campground front and where his go-to getaway spot is when he can get away from the office.
This episode is sponsored by Furrion.
Kerry Porter, vice president of operations for General RV, talks about the company’s new PDI facility in Elkhart, and he offers an informed analysis on just what’s happening with the supply chain. After all, that’s been the focus of much of his career. (Sponsored by Furrion)
Steve Plemmons, the former owner of Bill Plemmons RV World, shares how RV Retailer—the company’s new ownership—and his two children will keep the familial culture alive. He also reminisces on how much he enjoyed working in his dad’s repair shop and his passion for racecars in North Carolina. (Sponsored by Furrion)
Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, talks about the boom in the campground and RV industries. She also discusses how there are more campgrounds being built today than in previous decades. (Sponsored by LiquidSpring)
Coinciding with RV PRO's May 2021 print issue, which features a special section called, “Celebrating Leading Women in the RV Industry,” this week’s episode highlights four women who are making their own mark on the industry: Divya Brown, president of TAXA Outdoors; Carolyn Windish Irwin and Whitney Holtz of Colorado’s Windish RV; and Susan Carpenter, president of the RV Women’s Alliance.
Don Clark, founder and CEO of Grand Design RV, talks about the path he took to launch his own RV brand—one that consistently ranks at, or near, the top of the annual Dealer Satisfaction Index. Clark and his team focus on doing what they do at a very high level, which include pre-delivery inspection. But that’s not to say branching out isn’t in the company’s future. (Sponsored by Southwire)
Diana LeBlanc-Link, outgoing president of PPL Motor Homes, an RV consignment dealership, shares her inspiring story. She started with the company more than 40 years ago, answering an ad in a Houston jobs sheet for someone looking for a receptionist. She quickly rose through the ranks to general manager and spent the past decade as its president. (Sponsored by LiquidSpring)
Frankie Barouti of California’s Giant RV talks about the challenges still being caused by COVID, and why he sees his sales lots as similar to the produce section at a grocery store. The company is in its fourth decade in business, started by his father from scratch, and it has four locations around Southern California. (Sponsored by Star brite)
Mike Hesse took over as head of Blue Ox in 2017, having come from another industry. But he’s worked hard to put his own stamp on the venerable tow and hitch company. Sponsored by Motility Software Solutions
Inspired by a cross-country camping trip with his son, Earl B. Hunter Jr. took on what he now considers his life’s work: founding Black Folks Camp Too. He believes the marketing of the RV and outdoor recreation industry has largely ignored Black people. Hunter, a sales and marketing veteran, aims to change that.
Indiana’s RV Technical Institute had just graduated its first class when COVID-19 turned the world upside down last March. Executive Director Curt Hemmeler discusses how they changed the original schedule they had planned on, and the myriad ways RV technician training is offered today.
Jamison Carrier, leader of dealership consulting firm Relentless Dealer Services, talks about a very important subject that he feels might be oft overlooked: F&I. He’ll talk about why it matters, how to maximize its profit potential in your dealership, and what to look for to see whether your F&I strategy is working or not.
Bob Brammer, president of Stromberg Carlson, discusses what it takes to fend off the competition, both foreign and domestic. He also walks through the lessons his company learned from almost a full year of battling COVID-19. Lesson one: Take care of your people.
Jason Krantz, founder and CEO of Strategy Titan, explains how dealers can utilize data to gain an edge on their competition. He delves into the type of analytics dealers should pay attention to and why that information is important. Going with a “gut feel,” he says, is no longer enough.
Roadtrek CEO Dane Found shares how the company is on the path to restoring its reputation for being the gold standard in Class B motorhomes. He discusses his strategy and how Covid-19 affected those plans, as well as the inherent challenge in designing and building Class B’s.
Mark Podeyn of New Mexico’s Action RV talks about life as an independent service shop owner and how similar shops will continue to play a vital role in the industry. Also, Podeyn discusses his work with the RV Technical Institute, and why he feels training is key to the ongoing health of the industry.
Mike Keller, president of Pennsylvania’s Keller Marine and RV, details the latest about his wholesale distribution business and his company's upcoming show. He also talks about what he calls “leaks” in the industry – everything from the misidentification of parts to delays in getting warranty repairs approved.
Phil Ingrassia, president of the RV Dealers Association, discusses how plans have changed for 2020’s RVDA Expo held in Las Vegas. He also talks about the weeks of confusion and shutdowns caused by the pandemic, followed by an explosion in RV sales.
Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Email our producer, Sara Dorheim-Davis at sddavis@nbm.com.