The National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) reported 480 people registered for the 2022 Expo, which took place Sept. 26-30 in Athens, Texas, in order to provide continuing education training for certified RV inspectors and technicians.
“The expo went very well and participants who completed all the sessions earned 30 continuing education credits toward maintaining their certifications with the National RV Inspectors Association (NRVIA) or the RV Technician Association of America (RVTAA),” said Gilda Mitchell, director of membership benefits for both groups.
The 17 presenters and their topics included:
- Mark Kohler, a partner with KKOS Lawyers and Kohler & Eyre CPA, discussed tax and legal strategies to structure a business.
- David Cantrell, owner of Miles From Monday RV Inspection Services, described customer development techniques.
- Shane Hendricks, owner of Damascus Road RV Rental and Inspections, taught about RV suspensions.
- Mike Dickey, HVAC training and rally coordinator at RVP Products, offered training on the Aqua Hot Module 2 burner as well as the Coleman-Mach basic RV air conditioner.
- Mike O’Neil, a technical trainer with Spartan RV Chassis, talked about proper maintenance and service intervals.
- Todd Henson, director of education at NRVTA, discussed RV solar products.
- Kris Spengler, Suburban service manager for Airxcel, offered training on Suburban SF and NT furnaces.
- Coley Brady, president and co-founder of Alliance RV, and Bill Martin, vice president of customer service for Alliance RV, offered an outlook on the RV industry from a manufacturer’s perspective.
- Michele Withrow, service business development manager at Dometic, and Heidi Gayheart, a technical trainer, described the company’s aftermarket service network initiative.
- Rob Boyer, Alliance RV service liaison, and Jim Bonacci, the company’s senior customer service manager, talked about warranty work expectations for mobile technicians.
- Mike Rogers, vice president of product development at HomeGauge, demonstrated how to use Web Writer software to complete RV inspections.
- Jeff Hostetler, from Tom Manning & Associates, offered training on proper sealants and adhesives for RV repairs. He also discussed how an auto changeover regulator affects an RV’s propane delivery system.
- Sue Rasmussen, the owner of Royal Flush RV Services, described three common problems with RV black and gray water tanks.
- Chris Wilson, NRVTA’s generator instructor, demonstrated a complete teardown of the most common Onan generator carburetors.
What makes the expo so unique is that certified RV technicians and inspectors are participating in training their peers, Mitchell said. In fact, people seeking credentials as master certified RV inspectors are required to make a presentation at a trade event, she added.
The 2022 Expo was sponsored Tom Manning & Associates, Miller Farrell Insurance Agency, Road Life Project and HomeGauge.