NEWS
HIRES & PROMOTIONS
Jason Lippert
Fun Town RV
Fun Town RV named Jason Lippert as its CEO in August. Current Founder and CEO Jarrod McGhee will move to the role of founder/chairman of Fun Town RV. Lippert joins Fun Town RV following a 32-year career with LCI Industries, where he started on the manufacturing floor.
Destiny Rounsavall
RVTAA & NRVIA
RV Technicians Association of America (RVTAA) and the National RV Inspectors Association (NRVIA) have appointed Destiny Rounsavall as member services and partnership coordinator for both organizations. Rounsavall will oversee member service initiatives and coordinate strategic partnerships with organizations that support the RV industry.
Patrick Smith
Grote Industries
Grote Industries has appointed Patrick Smith as vice president of North American operations in Madison, Indiana, and a member of the company’s executive leadership team. Smith will bring his decades of expertise and a solutions-focused viewpoint to Grote’s management team, with an emphasis on operational excellence, continuous improvement and talent development.
Bryon Dorr
Overland Expo
Overland Expo has appointed Bryon Dorr as senior content and brand strategist, a newly established leadership role. Dorr will lead strategic initiatives that support continued growth across Overland Expo’s events, media platforms, community engagement efforts and brand partnerships. A key focus of Dorr’s work will be helping Overland Expo deepen its connection with both its core audience and adjacent adventure communities.
Scott Fontaine
Black Book
Black Book has appointed Scott Fontaine as vice president and head of residual strategy. In this newly created executive leadership role, Fontaine will report to Black Book President Jared Kalfus and lead the company’s residual value modeling and predictive valuation strategy across the U.S. and Canada. Fontaine brings more than 25 years of experience spanning automotive finance, residual setting, vehicle valuations, remarketing, credit risk and quantitative modeling.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Blue Compass RV announced the acquisition of Brown’s RV Superstore in South Carolina. The store will now be recognized as Blue Compass RV Columbia Northeast and gives Blue Compass 13 dealerships in the Carolinas.
Heavy Equipment Colleges of America (HEC) has acquired the National RV Training Academy (NRVTA). NRVTA will become a part of HEC’s growing trade education portfolio, extending its footprint into RV service, maintenance and technical training as demand continues to rise alongside the growth of outdoor recreation and mobile living across the U.S.
Suppliers & Aftermarket
Airxcel held its 13th annual New Product Showcase in August at its newly renovated showroom in Elkhart, Indiana, offering attendees with a first look at new products and technology enhancements. “Across our portfolio, we’re investing in product innovations that help manufacturers create RVs that are smarter, more comfortable and better aligned with the needs of today’s travelers,” said Anthony Wollschlager, president and CEO of Airxcel.
Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. announced a strategic partnership with Sphere Energy to develop and integrate AI capabilities into its future battery technologies and integrated power systems. Sphere Energy’s proprietary battery AI models will be integrated into Dragonfly Energy’s next-generation battery management system architecture.
EVENTS
RV MANUFACTURING
Tiger Adventure Vehicles showcased its all-new Panthera 200 at Overland Expo Mountain West. The four-season Panthera 200, built on the F-350 single or extended cab platform, features Tiger’s open galley layout with an overhead full bed and stargazing skylight, a lounging couch that converts to a full bed, fully enclosed redesigned wet bath and Tiger’s signature large pass-through to the truck.
In August, Winnebago Industries announced targeted manufacturing adjustments across two of its RV brands. The Winnebago brand’s towable RV production operations were slated for relocation to the nearby production campus where Grand Design RV products are currently manufactured in Middlebury, Indiana. Separately, the Winnebago motorhome business is relocating production of its Class B product line from Lake Mills, Iowa, to its primary manufacturing facility in Forest City, Iowa, bringing key manufacturing functions together in a single complex and strengthening coordination across the business.
Nearly 400 dealers and personnel attended Jayco’s 2026 Dealer Homecoming Event held in August in Las Vegas at the Venetian Resort Convention & Expo Center. During the event, tenured Jayco dealers of 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 years were recognized and presented commemorative clocks in varying size. Jayco also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Jay Flight model. For a list of dealers honored during Jayco’s Homecoming, visit bit.ly/4cKKe7l.
In August, Sunset Park RV welcomed owners back to Shipshewana North Campground in Indiana for its 4th Annual Owner Rally, bringing together familiar faces, first-time attendees, employees and industry partners. “The trailers may be what brings everyone here, but the people are what make this weekend special,” said Bob Fish, chief administrative officer of Sunset Park RV.
Gulf Stream Coach welcomed over 600 employees and family members to a company picnic, held Aug. 15 at the Gulf Stream Country Club, adjacent to the company’s northern Indiana manufacturing campus. “At Gulf Stream, we understand that everything we accomplish is the direct result of the work our teams put in,” said Phil Sarvari, president of Gulf Stream Coach. “What they accomplished over the past year has been particularly remarkable. This picnic is our way of bringing everyone together and saying thank you.”
Awards & Recognitions
During the 2026 Aftermarket Conference, Cathy Sutton of Tom Manning & Associates and John Hawkins of BAL RV Products were the awarded the 2026 RV Aftermarket Lifetime Achievement Award. To see other Aftermarket Award recipients, visit bit.ly/3UmjGmy.
The RV Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada, in partnership with NTP-STAG Canada, announced Mark Passmore as the top recipient of the 2025–2026 NTP-STAG Canada RV Technician Bursary. Passmore, a dedicated third-year apprentice at Jerry’s RV, was selected for his commitment to professional growth, hands-on excellence and passion for the Canadian RV industry.
American Technology Components Inc. received the Fairbanks Award from the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce Business Recognition Council, recognizing the company’s new facility at 1147 N. Michigan St., Elkhart, Indiana, and its contribution to the appearance and continued development of the local business community.
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