RVs Move America Week 2025 hit the ground running with an awards ceremony taking place during the Monday lunch.
RV Industry Association (RVIA) President and CEO Craig Kirby opened the program with insights into the state of the RV industry and the association’s ongoing research initiatives. Awards were then presented by Chair of the RV Industry Association and Executive Vice President of Thetford North America Mary Pouliot.
The RV Industry Association annually recognizes individuals, companies and organizations for outstanding contributions to the advancement of the RV industry with the presentation of awards honoring exceptional service and achievements in the areas of RV standards, education, and government affairs. The Association’s Awards Committee oversees the annual program and works with staff and industry colleagues to identify, nominate and name honorees.
The first honor, the National Legislative Award, was presented to three policymakers who champion the RV industry on Capitol Hill. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR) were recognized for their outstanding leadership in expanding outdoor recreation access, strengthening public land management, and championing RV camping across the country. This includes their leadership and advocacy in passing the EXPLORE Act, a landmark legislative package that boosted outdoor recreation and RV camping.
Additionally, Senator Blake Doriot (R-IN) has been a friend to the RV industry for many years and is being recognized for his sponsorship and leadership in passing the RV specific franchise legislation this year.
The second award was the National Education Service Award, which recognizes those who have been instrumental in the development of educational programs in the RV industry.
This award was received by Ryan Horsey, President of Parkview RV Center. He has championed industry education programs and technician training throughout his career. As President of Parkview RV Center, he has been an integral part of both sales and service operations, which has allowed him to excel in his technical RV knowledge and actively contribute to training and educating programs for both new and seasoned staff members.
As Chair of the RV Dealers Association, Ryan has strongly supported all RV Technical Institute Board initiatives. His willingness to share his expertise and encourage other dealer principles to seek the benefit of the RV Technical Institute and its opportunities it affords has been key to the effort’s growth.
Ryan is also an advocate for hands-on learning, and he has helped design and implement in-house RV Technical Institute training programs that blend theoretical knowledge with practical application.
The recipient of the next award, the Distinguished Achievement in RV Standards Award, was Joe Kleinknight, Quality Assurance Technical Manager at Keystone RV. This award was established to recognize those who have contributed to the enhancement of RV standards in the industry.
Joe has certainly done that and more over his 35 plus years in the RV industry, including many as an active member of the RV Industry Association Technical Subcommittees.
He has chaired the Heating Technical Committee for the past 23 years and is a voting member on the Electrical, Plumbing, Fire and Life Safety, and Vehicular Components Subcommittees as well as the Standards Steering Committee. He also serves on the committee with the National Fire Protection Association 1192 and 1194 Standard as an alternate since 2011.
Joe’s career-long work and commitment to improving safety by serving in the development of standards, enforcement positions and policies has greatly assisted the association’s efforts in this critical area.
The next honor was the David J. Humphreys RV Industry Unity Award, which was presently jointly with the RV Dealers Association. This honor recognizes those who continuously strive to encourage the multiple constituencies of the RV industry to work collectively for the growth and betterment of the industry. The recipient was Ron Breymier, Executive Director for the Indiana Manufactured Housing Association-Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council.
Through his career, Ron has consistently worked with manufacturers, dealers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to improve the business environment for the RV industry in his state and throughout the U.S.
Ron is a partner of LegisGroup, a government relations firm representing the RV and manufactured housing industries in Indiana and has developed deep relationships with federal and state officials that have greatly benefited the legislative efforts of the RV Industry Association and the RV Dealers Association. This included playing a leading role during the COVID outbreak in working with the governor’s office to assure that Indiana RV manufacturers and dealers were declared essential businesses that could stay open and that campgrounds could open before Memorial Day weekend.
The most recent example is Ron and the Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council team’s invaluable support of the Indiana RV-specific franchise law, which was signed by the Governor Mike Braun (R-IN) earlier this year. This legislation establishes a system that more accurately reflects the relationship between RV manufacturers and dealers, and it was strongly supported by the RV Industry Association, the RV Dealers Association, the RV Indiana Council, and Indiana RV dealers.
Monday’s final award was the Distinguished Service Award. As the RV Industry Association’s highest honor, this award is presented to an individual within the RV industry who has set themselves apart by outstanding service. The recipient was Chad Reece, Winnebago Industries’ Vice President of Government and Industry Relations.
Chad was honored for his many contributions to the Association and the RV industry over a career that has spanned nearly 40 years at Winnebago Industries. In that time, his participation and expertise guided the Association in providing outstanding member programs and services that have helped propel a rising RV market.
He has served as an RV Industry Association Board member and worked on ten Association committees and subcommittees, including being the current chair of the Government Affairs Committee and past chair of the Awards and Public Relations committees. He has also served on the Go RVing Coalition and the RV Woman’s Alliance.
Chad’s impact and contributions have touched every core functional area of the Association (government affairs, membership, standards, technical education, and public relations and promotion, specifically.) Chad has been and continues be a driving force in our industry effort to raise awareness of RV travel and camping, as well as cement our reputation as the best way for families to have impactful moments and memories.
