2025 RV PRO RVeterans Honoree Bob Zagami

Bob is the principal consultant at RV Insights and also served as executive director of the New England RV Dealers Association (NERVDA) since 2013, where he works with dealers and members to promote the RV lifestyle. He also works closely with campgrounds to foster a relationship that benefits campers who enjoy the great outdoors.

In what ways has Bob gone above and beyond for the RV industry?

Bob entered the RV industry in 1966 when he joined the original RV News Magazine, produced by Don Magary and Dan Holt, as a freelancer author and photographer, working his way up to editor. Bob also serves as chair of the RV Executive Committee, an organization comprised of leaders of many of state RV dealer associations.

How does Bob’s tenure and experience contribute to the RV industry?

Bob is one of the industry’s most respected journalists and association leaders. He consistently helps new people seeking to enter the industry and was among the original supporters of the RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA), RV Technical Institute (RVTI) and other groups who needed assistance from dealers. As an advocate for RVWA, Bob worked with Susan Carpenter and her team, attending early formation meetings to provide an unbiased view from the dealer’s perspective. At RVTI, he worked closely with Curt Hemmeler for dealer input on various education and training programs being developed by the industry’s only authorized technician certification programs. Bob was also responsible for seminar program production for the Boston RV Show.

How does Bob mentor or support others?

Bob has mentored many people entering the industry, including new sales reps wanting to learn quickly from his industry knowledge. As mentioned above, he mentored women in New England and encouraged them to join RVWA and learn from experienced leaders through education and networking. He would often speak to dealerships’ technical teams to present the RV Technical Institute and answer questions about training and certifications.

Bob says his most enjoyable mentoring and support programs came as the Industry Advisory Board Chair for the private/public partnership between the document management industry and the Horace Mann School for the Deaf in Boston. He served in this volunteer capacity for 25 years, where they established technical training programs to teach deaf and handicapped students from first grade through high school.

What else should we know about Bob?

Bob entered the United States Air Force upon graduation from high school and served in the Intelligence Division during the Cold War. At 19, he was the youngest E-5 in the division’s history and had 60 service members in his unit in Italy and Turkey.

From Bob

What has it meant to work in the RV industry this long?

When you are having this much fun, you don’t pay attention to passage of time. From my first days as a freelance writer and photographer, I was accepted into the RV industry and appreciated for my contributions through the years. This is a unique industry, as many have said before me. We all work very hard to provide products and services that allow consumers to maximize their investment in an RV and the lifestyle, and then socialize at the bar or the golf course. The camaraderie is contagious, and people actually like each other, work well together and support each other in good times and bad. From employees on the production floor to CEOs of great companies, you have made me feel welcomed in my RV career. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this great industry and being able to work with so many great people on this journey.

What advice do you have for those just starting their careers?

Don’t wait for things to happen — take responsibility for your own future. Learn everything you can about the industry or organization you choose to be a part of. If you get up in the morning and you don’t love what you are going to do for the rest of the day, then perhaps it is time to chase your dreams and make things happen. Look around you, find the most successful people you work with and set a goal to be the person that others respect and look up to. You have to earn respect based on how you approach the work that you do and show a passion for it every day.