Mike Depositar has been chief operating officer at Encore RV for less than a year but has already made a noteworthy impact on the company.
“We were searching for the right leadership to guide our young company and found it in Mike Depositar,” says Rich Schnippel, founder of Encore RV. “One of the most notable changes was a stronger culture within the company. Our team started to feel not only the support they needed but also a sense of accountability that had been lacking between departments.”
Rich says that thanks to Mike, Encore RV operates more cohesively than ever before.
“Mike quickly recognized that while we had a mission statement, we lacked a set of core values to guide our daily operations,” Rich adds. “He took the initiative to meet with each department and employee, asking them what core values they expected at Encore. By involving everyone in this process, our team felt genuinely heard and invested in defining who we are as a company.”
Mike has used his 11 years of experience in the RV industry to help Encore operate more efficiently. For example, while working with the company’s purchasing department, Mike identified areas for potential savings.
“He introduced us to new vendors who not only helped reduce costs but also improved the quality of materials we use in manufacturing our products,” Rich says.
Most of all, Mike helped to inspire a sense of ownership and accountability for the entire team.
“Mike is a dynamic, high-energy individual, and his enthusiasm is contagious throughout our company. Over the last six months since he joined the team at Encore RV, I’ve seen his leadership traits in action. He has a clear vision of who Encore RV is and where we are headed. Mike displays genuine empathy — he truly cares about the needs, emotions and perspectives of our team members. He also believes strongly in accountability, holding not only the team but also himself to the same high standards.”
Mike says the launch of Encore’s new Revue product this year was a big accomplishment while being able to maintain the company’s mission of making wood-free trailers.
“It’s an accomplishment to be able to make quality and composites affordable,” he says.
When he’s not working, Mike values family time with his wife and two children. He’s also an avid golfer, enjoys fishing and has a passion for collecting and trading sports cards.
Mike’s advice for upcoming leaders in the RV space:
“Put the end consumer first and always be willing to learn. This industry is really easy to over complicate, but in the end, we get the awesome opportunity to sell fun and a vacation.”
