Louisville attendees gathered Wednesday night for RV Industry Awards event
RV Industry leaders were recognized Wednesday night (Nov. 29) at a joint celebration during a special RV Industry Awards event at the Mercury Ballroom in downtown Louisville, Ky., in conjunction with the National RV Trade Show. (To view a slideshow scroll to the right side of the RVBUSINESS.com home page. Photos by Shawn Spence).
The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) honored Derald Bontrager of Jayco Inc. with RVIA’s Distinguished Service to the RV Industry Award. Brian Wilkins of Wilkins RV was presented with the with the David J. Humphreys Industry Unity Award, which is presented jointly by RVIA and the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA).
The event, sponsored by Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA), also featured the presentation of RVDA’s Titan Award to Bob Tiffin of Tiffin Motorhomes Inc.; RVDA’s Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) Quality Circle Awards; and RVBusiness Magazine’s RV of the Year Award to the Winnebago Horizon.
The RVIA Distinguished Service to the RV Industry Award is the association’s highest honor, presented to an individual within the RV industry who has set himself or herself apart by outstanding service. As one of the most successful and respected executives in the RV industry, Bontrager is being recognized for his extensive service to RVIA and for his tremendous success at the helm of Jayco.
(L-R) RVIA President Frank Hugelmeyer, Jayco Inc. President and CEO Derald Bontrager and RVIA Chairman Bob Parish
This David J. Humphrey’s Industry Unity Award recognizes an individual who continuously strives to encourage the multiple constituencies of the industry to work collectively for the growth and betterment of the industry. During his time as RVDA Chairman and in other leadership positions, Wilkins has worked diligently to strengthen the bonds connecting RV dealers, manufacturers and suppliers.
RVDA presented Quality Circle Awards to RV manufacturers that achieve the highest rating in the RVDA Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) Survey.
Those winners in the towable category are: Airstream Inc.; Forest River Inc. (XLR); Grand Design RV Co. (Imagine, Momentum, Reflection, Solitude); Gulf Stream Corp. (Vintage Cruiser/Vista Cruiser); Heartland RV LLC (North Trail/Wilderness); Keystone RV Co.(Cougar, X-lite, Springdale/Summerland/Residence); K.Z. Inc. (Spree/Spree Connect/Spree Escape); Lance Camper Manufacturing Corp. (travel trailers/toy haulers, truck campers), and Livin’ Lite RV.
The winners of the Quality Circle Awards in the motorized category are: Airstream; Gulf Stream; Leisure Travel Vans/Triple E; Newmar Corp.; Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd., and Tiffin.
The inaugural RV Industry Awards brought the RV industry together for an evening of recognition during the National RV Trade Show to honor the companies, people and vehicles that truly showcase the industry as dynamic, innovative, inspirational and customer-service focused.
