The following is a News & Insights profile from the RV Industry Association (RVIA).
As president of the RV/MH Hall of Fame, Daryll Milnikel champions the legacies of trailblazers across the RV and manufactured housing industries.
Originally from Niles, Michigan, Daryll graduated from the American Military University with a bachelor’s in human resource management and a minor in business management.
Outside of his professional work, Daryll places his family at the center of his life. “First and foremost, I’m a father and a husband,” he says. “I have two little boys. My wife and I have been together since high school, and family is really important to me. That’s where I spend most of my time if I’m not working.”
That deep commitment to family naturally translated into a strong sense of service, leading Daryll to begin his career in the military. “My background primarily came from the Marine Corps,” he says. “I spent about 10 and a half years there through various roles and positions before I was injured and had to retire.”
After returning to the private sector, Daryll began working in private insurance. “It was a complete change of pace from the Marine Corps, where I’d spent a lot of time focused on leadership and mission accomplishment,” he recalls. “Insurance moved me into a whole new world of process planning, project planning, and program development.”
Eventually, after seeking new opportunities, Daryll became interested in a job posting from the RV/MH Hall of Fame, which is operated by the RV/MH Heritage Foundation. “I had heard of the Foundation, but I had never really been involved with it,” he explains. “I started doing my research and found out that the Foundation is this great nonprofit that operates the Hall of Fame’s museum and library, as well as the Northern Indiana Event Center. All these different facets are responsible for sharing the story of those who have made such an impact on the RV and manufactured housing industries. It really sparked my interest.”
He became even more invested after interviewing with some of the Hall of Fame’s board of directors. “I really fell in love with this place,” Daryll reflects. “It gave me something I could identify with: making sure stories are preserved, and that people are recognized for the work they’ve done and the impact they’ve made.”
“There are so many Americans and families who put food on the table because of these two industries,” he notes. “To champion and share that story — about these great vehicles, and companies, but also about the individuals who worked together to create them — really fascinated me and drew me in.”
A year and a half into his role as the president of the RV/MH Hall of Fame, Daryll most enjoys that each day is unique. “There’s not really a typical day here at the Hall of Fame,” he says. “Some days we’re wearing the nonprofit hat and trying to decide how to coordinate with donors and the logistics of running events with upwards of 10,000 people on our campus. There are other days I’m in the museum giving a tour of our historical RVs and our Hall of Fame room with all the different individuals we’ve inducted. It’s amazing. The variety helps keep it exciting — I like the chaos! I grew up in the Marine Corps, so not having a standard 9-to-5 is something I enjoy.”
