The RV Industry Association (RVIA) hosted its annual Regulatory & Safety Compliance Seminar on July 30, in Elkhart, Indiana, drawing nearly 100 attendees representing more than 19 manufacturers and 19 supplier companies from across the RV sector.
The one-day event focused on emerging compliance challenges, data-driven safety practices, and strategies for improving recall management.
It also served as a platform for networking and knowledge sharing among industry professionals.
According to a News and Insights report of RVIA on August 5, Leo Akins, corporate general manager at Forest River, delivered the keynote presentation titled “Creating a Safety Culture.”
His session outlined how leadership can drive organization-wide safety practices and emphasized the importance of top-down engagement.
Following the keynote, attendees participated in a series of panel discussions featuring seasoned compliance experts.
Topics included optimizing data analytics for safety oversight, improving parts traceability, navigating regulatory enforcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and strengthening recall completion strategies.
Panelist David Stevenson, quality team leader at ATC Trailers, highlighted the value of the seminar in connecting with peers and refining internal practices.
“The RV Industry Association’s Regulatory & Safety Compliance Seminar is a great opportunity to network with many knowledgeable and experienced people in this sector of the RV industry,” Stevenson said.
“Every time I learn new things and gain insight into how our company can be more successful in managing recalls,” Stevenson added.
Mike Becker, head of compliance at Forest River and chair of the RVIA Regulatory & Safety Compliance Subcommittee, served as both emcee and panel moderator.
He commended the level of participant engagement and the event’s continued improvement over the years.
“Every year gets better, and this year was the best yet. I think we had more people contribute with great questions and interaction,” Becker said. “I really enjoyed being a part of the panels and discussions.”
In addition to expert presentations and panel Q&As, the seminar provided a forum for in-depth discussion about the RV industry’s regulatory landscape.
Sponsors of this year’s seminar included THOR Industries, Winnebago Industries, Forest River, Lippert, Dometic, and Dexter.