LAS VEGAS, Nev. – OK readers, a show of hands please – and be honest.
How many of you ever thought you would see a man balance a chair on his nose during an RV Dealers Association Business Meeting?
When emcee Jeff Civillico did just that to kick off Wednesday morning’s meeting, that was proof positive that outgoing Chairman Larry Troutt III had been successful during his term in office in bringing a little spontaneity and even some joy into the proceedings.
The proceedings even helped humanize those who have been placed in the daunting position of representing the industry and advocating for causes near and dear to the hearts of members.
Rather than hosting an exit speech and an acceptance speech from Troutt and new Chairman Bob Been of Blue Compass, Civillico and President Phil Ingrassia conducted something of a question-and-answer session with the pair that showed the contrasts in the two but also their leadership strengths.
“It’s been about the continued relationships we’ve built over the past year,” Troutt said. “The staff and Phil have been great and they’ve allowed me to be me. If it wasn’t me, I wouldn’t do it, and that’s what I told them when they first called me about it. My goal was to get some of these seasoned veteran mentors of mine out of their comfort zone and look into the way the younger generation thinks. I appreciate what everybody has done for me and hope it was fun for everybody else.”
Been talked about his formative years in the industry working in a dealership and running a mobile service station in Arizona before returning to retail.
He sold his dealership to Blue Compass.
Ingrassia talked about the major victory the industry saw last summer when Congress passed the Travel Trailer Tax Parity Act, which the industry had been pushing for since an error in a 2017 piece of legislation left towables out of the list of floorplans that could be deducted from dealers’ taxes.
Since this only affected the RV industry, it was difficult to round up regular industry allies such as marine and motorsports industries to get on board.
“I’ve been up here talking to you as members for five years to get this done and with the help of a lot of people in this room we had more than 400 dealers contact Congress on this issue and of course we had RVIA’s help and we got it across the finish line,” Ingrassia said.
New Officers
Immediate Past Chairman Ryan Horsey announced new officers and Board of Directors members for 2026.
Chairman is Bob Been of Blue Compass RV, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 1st Vice Chairman is Brad Bacon of PleasureLand RV Center, St. Cloud, Minn.; 2nd Vice Chairman is Lane Bell of Bell Camper Sales, Bartlesville, Okla.; Treasurer is LaDonna Meadows of Tacoma RV Center, Tacoma, Wash.; and Secretary is Travis Creech of Rex & Sons RV, Wilmington, N.C.
The new Board of Directors includes Michael Moix of Moix RV Super Center, Conway, Ark.; Jeff Myers of Myers RV Center, Albuquerque, N.M.; Russ Perkins of Tri-Am RV Center, Bulls Gap, Tenn.; and Nick Lenzo of Colonial Airstream, Millstone, N.J.
Committee chairs 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.
President Phil Ingrassia, serves as a non-voting member of the board.
Awards and Honors
RVDA’s highest honor, the James B. Summers Award, was presented to Ron Shepherd of Camperland of Oklahoma.
Shepherd was chairman of RVDA during one of the toughest years when COVID struck.
“The industry’s shared goal was clear – keep RV dealerships open, show federal, state and local officials that our businesses were essential – not just economically, but for the physical and mental well-being of the American public,” Ingrassia said. “Ron’s leadership helped the industry not only survive but ultimately thrive.”
The RVDA Titan Award was presented to RVIA President & CEO Craig Kirby for his continuing partnership and collaboration with RVDA to promote the RV industry and its causes.
Chairman’s Service Awards were presented to former executive director of the Mike Molino Learning Center Karin Van Duyse, who retired in June; Nathan Hart of Walnut Ridge Family RV Sales in New Castle, Ind.; LaDonna Meadows of Tacoma RV Center in Washington; and Larry Troutt II of Topper’s RV in Waller, Texas.
