Hailed when it was launched in 2019 as “the biggest and most important project of its kind that has ever happened in this industry,” the RV Technical Institute (RVTI), a multi-million-dollar investment by the RV Industry Association (RVIA) and RV Dealers Association (RVDA), is celebrating its five-year anniversary this month.
RV industry companies are invited to visit the RV Technical Institute’s facility during the upcoming 2024 Elkhart RV Open House, which will take place Sept. 23-26.
“Our goal was simple: to create a gold-standard training program to empower technicians to deliver exceptional service and elevate the RV experience,” said RV Industry Association CEO and President Craig Kirby. “After five years, I can confidently say that we’ve built a nationwide community of skilled and enthusiastic professionals dedicated to keeping RVers on the road and creating unforgettable memories.”
A collaborative effort between RV manufacturers, dealerships, suppliers and other industry stakeholders, RVTI initially began offering training in the fall of 2019 at its 18,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Elkhart, Indiana. Only months later, the COVID-19 upended all set plans. However, the program quickly pivoted to offering online Zoom courses for the Level 1 training. These live, online classes were the precursor to the successful self-paced online courses that are now offered for both Level 1 and Level 2 training.
By the end of year four, over 15,000 students had enrolled in RVTI courses, including dealership technicians seeking to advance their skills, entrepreneurs eager to start mobile tech businesses, and entry-level and career-changing newcomers to the industry.
“Attracting and training service technicians to make sure that millions of RVers continue to enjoy the great outdoors requires creative recruitment efforts,” says Curt Hemmeler, RVTI executive director. RVTI has exhibited at several American School Counselor Association events to educate high school counselors about the RV industry and the rewarding, high-demand careers it offers high school graduates. The institute is currently working with several schools to incorporate its training programs into student curriculums.
RVTI has also partnered with the RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA) to conduct all-female training courses. Initially a pilot program, these popular courses are now being offered throughout the country.
Critical to the “hub-and-spoke” model where training happens at the RVTI headquarters in Elkhart as well as at partner locations across the country, RVTI’s Authorized Learning Partners program provides dealerships, technician colleges, and even correctional facilities with curriculum and resources to conduct their own on-site training. This strategy of building a network of training locations across the country now accounts for more than 85% of the Institute’s students.
“We are very proud of the RVTI team and of how manufacturers, dealers, suppliers, campground operators, and other RV experts have come together to create a world-class program,” said Hemmeler. “The beneficiaries will continue to be technicians, who are enjoying rewarding careers, and RVers, who are spending more time on the road to their next adventure.”
See RVTI’s video celebrating its five-year anniversary below:
