RVs Move America Week 2024 commenced with a significant highlight: an awards ceremony held during Monday’s lunch, recognizing notable contributions to the RV industry.
Organized by the RV Industry Association (RVIA), this event honored individuals and organizations for their exceptional service, legislative efforts, educational contributions, and commitment to industry standards.
The ceremony’s first accolade, the Distinguished Service to the RV Industry Award, was presented to Sherman Goldenberg, partner and publisher of G&G Media Group LLC. This award, the Association’s highest honor, acknowledges Sherman’s influential journalistic career and his unwavering support for the RV industry.
The National Legislative Award was shared by two distinguished recipients. Representative Rudy Yakym (IN-02) was honored for his role as RV Caucus Co-Chair and his advocacy for the Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act in the House, as per the News & Insights report of the RVIA.
He is also co-sponsoring the bipartisan EXPLORE Act, aimed at bolstering outdoor recreation and RV camping. Wisconsin State Representative Scott Krug received the same award for his dedication to the RV-specific manufacturer-dealer agreement bill, which became law earlier this year.
April Klein-Carroll was announced as the recipient of the National Service Award, to be presented during the Board of Directors meeting on June 6. April’s work at Lippert, focusing on improving customer experiences in warranty repairs and technician training, as well as her volunteer efforts with the RVIA and the RV Technical Institute (RVTI), earned her this recognition.
Don Clark of Grand Design was honored with the National Education Service Award for his pivotal role in the development of educational programs within the RV industry.
Don’s contributions to the RVTI, including providing teaching aids, equipment, and strategic planning, have significantly advanced industry education and technician training.
Ryan Hyer of Testing Engineers International received the Distinguished Achievement in RV Standards Award. Ryan’s extensive involvement with various technical committees and his contributions to the development and enforcement of RV standards have been instrumental in enhancing safety and compliance within the industry.
His work with the National Fire Protection Association and the American National Standards Institute/RV Industry Association’s standards highlights his commitment to improving industry safety.
The final award of the day, the David J. Humphreys RV Industry Unity Award, was presented to the late Dan Pearson of PleasureLand RV and Bob Wheeler of Airstream.
Recognized for their leadership as co-chairs of the Go RVing Coalition, they played a crucial role in promoting RV travel through national advertising campaigns and partnerships with major media brands. Their efforts during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the launch of the Go on a Real Vacation campaign were particularly noteworthy.
According to the Association, the awards celebrate those who have made significant contributions to the industry, fostering growth, unity, and advancement.
The Association expressed gratitude to Forest River for sponsoring Monday’s lunch, making the awards ceremony a memorable start to RVs Move America Week 2024. As the week continues, the industry looks forward to more discussions, innovations, and celebrations of the RV community’s ongoing progress and achievements .
