Building industry unity, increasing campsite availability, improving repair event cycle times, and accommodating electrification are just a few of the ways incoming RV Industry Association Chair Kevin McArt intends to protect the industry once he begins his term as Chair in 2023.
The Forest River general manager has been on the RV Industry Association board since 2017, serving as a member of the Market Information Committee, chair of the Audit Committee, chair of the Investment Committee, chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, member of the Canadian Coalition Committee, past chair of the Public and Legislative Affairs Committee, and acting as treasurer on the Executive Committee. But when he first joined the board, after encouragement by former RV Industry Association Chair and Forest River colleague, Doug Gaeddert, McArt described his experience as “baptism by fire.”
“Had there been an Emerging Leaders Coalition 20 years ago I would have had a better understanding of the RV Industry Association and a much stronger relationship with my industry colleagues.” said McArt, giving credit to board member Ryan Elias and staff liaison Samantha Rocci for their hard work and dedication in standing up the Emerging Leaders Coalition.
Born and raised in Elkhart, McArt and his wife of 30 years, Heidi, have three children, one grandchild and another on the way. 1992 was a seminal year for him. Not only did McArt marry and start in the RV industry that year, but he also began working for the same man for whom he still works three decades later: Pete Liegl, then the co-owner of Cobra Industries. Starting as a sales coordinator, McArt rose to regional sales manager for Cobra’s motorized division before the company was acquired by Forest River in 1996. Today, Liegl is the CEO of Forest River, which was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2005.
While McArt’s childhood was spent vacationing in his parents’ Coachmen motorhome, he never planned a career in the RV industry. He intended to follow in his father’s footsteps as a surgeon and graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington with a degree in chemistry. But a passion for building and designing things eventually led him away from medicine and into the RV industry.
Read more about McArt and his views on the coming year by clicking here.
