Gulf Stream Coach celebrated the people behind its products Saturday, welcoming more than 600 employees and family members to attend a company picnic.
Held Aug. 15 at the Gulf Stream Country Club, adjacent to the company’s northern Indiana manufacturing campus, the picnic brought together employees from Gulf Stream’s manufacturing facilities and corporate office for an afternoon of food, fishing, games and family activities.
“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.”
Among those accomplishments were Gulf Stream’s motorized and towable divisions earning RVDA Dealer Satisfaction Index Quality Circle Awards, along with the design and buildout of the broadest selection of new and improved floorplans in the company’s history, Gulf Stream Coach said.
Employees and their families enjoyed barbecue, fishing, games and a bounce house for children throughout the afternoon.
The event also marked the return of a Gulf Stream tradition remembered by many of the company’s longtime employees.
“In my 32 years with Gulf Stream, some of my favorite memories are from the big picnics we used to have,” said Anita Baker. “I’m thrilled we’re bringing that tradition back. It’s wonderful seeing everyone together and visiting with the Shea family.”
As a family-owned, family-operated and independent company, Gulf Stream has long emphasized the importance of the people and families behind its products, the company said. Many employees have spent decades with the company, passing their skills and knowledge to new generations of RV builders.
“I’ve had a great experience working for Gulf Stream for over 40 years,” said Butch Guercke. “This has been a great event for everyone to come together and use the beautiful Gulf Stream facilities.”
That same sense of family extends to Gulf Stream’s relationships with its dealers, suppliers and customers, many of whom have worked with the company for decades.
“It’s our people who build that reputation every day,” Sarvari said. “We’re proud of what they accomplished this year, and we’re even more excited about what this team is building for the future.”
Gulf Stream Country Club was built during the 1990s when Jim Shea, founder of Gulf Stream, took on the personal project of transforming over 45 acres of farmland to a beautiful park for employees, dealers, and customers to enjoy. Today, the park boasts more than 15 acres of lakes and streams, a golf course, pickleball and basketball courts, volleyball, softball diamonds, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and a scenic wooded area. Over the years, it has hosted countless memorable events, from dealer open houses to company picnics that drew crowds of over 4,000 people for a day of games, fair rides, and fun that employees still talk about today.
More recently, the park served as the picturesque campground for the Vintage Cruiser rally, showcasing yet another way this cherished space brings the Gulf Stream family together. Open to employees throughout the summer months, Oakland Park remains a source of pride for the Shea family — and they couldn’t be happier to see the tradition of the company picnic return to such a special space on the Gulf Stream campus, Gulf Stream Coach said.
