RV News

40 Under 40 Awards Draw Enthusiastic Crowd, Duane Spader Recipient Announced

Jordan Benschop November 12, 2026

4 minutes read

An award ceremony for RV PRO’s 7th annual edition of 40 Under 40 commenced Tuesday night, Nov. 10, with 32 honorees and nearly 150 total guests in attendance to celebrate the RV industry’s brightest young leaders.

Family, friends and colleagues cheered enthusiastically — some who flew to Las Vegas solely for the evening’s festivities — as the Class of 2026 was brought to the stage one-by-one. The ceremony capped off the second day of the RV Dealers Association (RVDA) Convention/Expo, with RVDA staff in the crowd to honor their very own 2026 honoree, Content Editor Eric Sisk.

40 under 40 2026 awards RV PRO was thrilled to spotlight and thank its sponsors for the year, including returning awards sponsor Rollick; gold sponsors Eberspaecher and UFP Factory Built; silver sponsors Prime RV and Newmar Corp.; and bronze sponsors Alliance RV, Airxcel, GE Appliances, SuperSprings International and Winnebago — several of which commemorating their own winners.

“Every year, we continue to receive record numbers of nominations for 40 Under 40,” said Senior Managing Editor Jordan Benschop when kicking off the evening. “This is not only a testament to our team’s ability to sustain and grow this program, but a bigger testament to the influx of talented young individuals that are coming into the industry and impacting it for the better.

“A huge thank you to our nominees and nearly 200 nominators, plus everyone else here tonight, for your enthusiasm about this program and helping us put together the 40 Under 40 feature in our November issue.”

Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship

As part of Tuesday night’s reception, Dan Roberts, strategic business development consultant with NCM Associates, presented the annual Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship. This year’s recipient was Sarah Atkinson, regional parts manager for Moix RV.

DanRoberts SarahAtkinson — NCM Associates’ Dan Roberts with Sarah Atkinson, recipient of the Duane Spader Leadership Development scholarship

The scholarship, in partnership with the Mike Molino RV Learning Center, honors the company’s founder Duane Spader — a past RVDA chairman — and supports current and aspiring leaders in the RV industry by offering exclusive professional development opportunities through NCM Associates’ training/consulting programs, valued up to $13,000.

Atkinson, also part of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2026, has led a 12-year career in the RV industry, defined by operational versatility, hands-on leadership and a commitment to organizational excellence. She started in dealership operations and held roles in warranty administration and accounting before being promoted to parts manager in 2019 and regional parts manager in 2024, where she now oversees fixed operations across six dealership locations.

“Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone,” Atkinson said in RV PRO’s November issue. “Some of the greatest opportunities in my career have come from saying yes before I felt completely ready and being willing to learn along the way. Find people who will invest in you and challenge you to grow, and then do the same for someone else. This is an incredible industry, and the leaders who will shape its future are the ones willing to learn from others while bringing their own ideas and perspectives to the table.”

In his recommendation letter, Moix RV Dealer Principal Michael Moix praised Atkinson’s initiative, commitment to continued learning and readiness for greater responsibility.

“She is the type of person who doesn’t wait for someone else to solve a problem,” Moix wrote. “She steps up, takes ownership, learns what she needs to learn and gets the job done.”

Last year’s recipient of the Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship was Lexi Roberts of Long View RV Superstores, who was a 40 Under 40 honoree for 2026.