Register for RVIA Leadership Conference to Hear From US Navy Submarine Commander
As expectations rise and customer interactions grow more complex, organizations are discovering that leadership and hospitality can no longer live only at the top. The most resilient, high-performing organizations are those where people at every level are empowered to lead.
The upcoming 2026 RV Industry Association’s (RVIA) Leadership Conference will feature a workshop speaker who understands this better than most, RVIA said.
Captain David Marquet is a former U.S. Navy submarine commander whose real-world leadership transformation aboard the USS Santa Fe offers powerful lessons for today’s RV industry leaders. When Marquet assumed command, the submarine ranked last in morale, performance and retention, challenges that will feel familiar to any organization facing workforce engagement, safety or operational pressures. Rather than relying on traditional command-and-control leadership, he introduced what is now known as Intent-Based Leadership, empowering people at every level to take ownership and make decisions.
The result? The Santa Fe went from worst to first in the fleet, setting records for performance, morale and retention while developing a pipeline of future leaders.
In this workshop, Captain Marquet will translate those lessons into practical strategies leaders can apply across the RV industry, from manufacturing floors to dealerships and campgrounds. Attendees will explore how empowering frontline employees improves accountability, safety, hospitality and the customer experience, while also strengthening retention and leadership development.
Whether your organization is navigating change, scaling operations, or looking to elevate both workplace culture and customer experience, this session will provide actionable insights to help you “turn your ship around.”
Register for the Leadership Conference today — the hotel cut-off date is Feb. 9.
RV PRO’s 2025 40 Under 40 honorees will receive a significant discount off of registration for this event. If you are an honoree, please contact RV PRO Senior Managing Editor Jordan Benschop (jbenschop@cahabamedia.com) for more details.
