Heartland RVs announced it has made strategic changes to its executive team for the coming 2025 model year. Heartland has named Jim Fenner the new vice president of manufacturing, customer service and engineering, and has appointed Chad Olinger the new senior director of service and parts operations for Heartland RV, Cruiser RV and DRV. Both men have years of experience working within Heartland, Cruiser or DRV, and their elevation to these new roles reflects the company’s commitment to creating the best possible experience for their valued owners and dealers, Heartland RV said in a release.
Fenner joined Heartland RV in 2006 as a customer service manager, working his way up through the company while gaining expertise across the customer service, engineering, quality and manufacturing teams. His new role as vice president of manufacturing, customer service and engineering reflects the excellence he’s brought to the company for the past 18 years in positions dedicated to improving customer satisfaction and making the RV buying experience more enjoyable, the company said.
“I am excited to add manufacturing to my role at Heartland,” said Fenner. “This company has a legacy of fostering long-standing relationships and building a trustworthy brand. My primary focus in this role will be on ensuring the highest quality in our products and implementing robust processes and continuous improvements to enhance our manufacturing operations.”
As senior director of service and parts operations, Olinger will oversee parts and service operations for Heartland, Cruiser and DRV. His promotion comes after 13 years with Cruiser RV and DRV, most recently as senior director for parts and warehouse for the companies, as well as Heartland. With a history of 15 years in the RV industry, Olinger is known for his leadership skills and process-oriented abilities.
“Promoting Jim Fenner and Chad Olinger to their new positions is a testament to their years of dedication and outstanding performance,” said Kyle Kwasny, Heartland RV’s president. “Their leadership will be instrumental in our ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of our products and surpass the expectations of our dealers and owners.”
These new appointments come on the heels of another big promotion earlier this year. In February, Anthony Roberts stepped into the role of director of quality control for Heartland, Cruiser RV and DRV after his 14-year tenure as senior director of service and warranty. Roberts now spearheads the quality control department, working closely with President Kwasny to push Heartland toward its ambitious goals for customer satisfaction, product reliability, and manufacturing quality. The addition of Fenner and Olinger is a further testament to Heartland’s dedication to creating the best products possible and building stronger relationships with their owners, the company said.
“Heartland RV is committed to building high-quality products that center on the owner experience,” said Kwasny. “By elevating our standards over time, we can continue creating proven, smarter, simpler products that give campers both what they want and what they need.”
Over the past two years, Heartland has also invested in improvements across multiple facilities, including adding a new 73,000-square-foot parts warehouse and a new 144,000-square-foot assembly plant. With the expansion of its service team, investment in state-of-the-art equipment and the addition of dozens of new assembly and inspection stations, Heartland said it has reshaped the way it approaches its lean manufacturing goals and improved the efficiency of its parts delivery. With these most recent changes to its executive team, Heartland is fortifying its commitment to quality, continuing to enhance its production capabilities and strengthening customer relations across the board.
