40 Under 40: Austin L. Miller
Vice President of Motorized Manufacturing, Jayco Family of Companies; With company: 12 Years | Industry experience: 12 years
Austin L. Miller centers his leadership on teaching, guiding and setting an example for others to follow.
As vice president of motorized manufacturing at the Jayco Family of Companies, Austin is a driving force in one of the largest motorized RV operations in the world. He oversees production, which generates more than $1 billion in revenue each year.
His career began in education — Austin started his teaching in the school system he once attended. His teaching experience has shaped his management style, guiding his teams with patience, clarity and consistency and showing them how to succeed and giving them the tools to do so.
Over the past 12 years, Austin has earned a reputation as a leader who thrives under pressure. When the chassis supply was severely constrained across the industry, Austin kept operations running smoothly. He managed schedules with precision, maintained strong communication with all employees and supporting departments, and ensured production continued without sacrificing quality or efficiency.
Under his leadership, Jayco’s motorized manufacturing plants consistently score high in product quality and labor efficiency. These results highlight his strategic planning skills and strong operational oversight, as well as his dedication to building a culture of accountability and excellence. His peers across sales, purchasing, engineering and manufacturing show a deep respect for him, recognizing his “whatever it takes” approach to solving problems and delivering results.
Since joining the company, Austin has been promoted five times; rising from group leader to assistant plant manager, then plant manager, operations director, and now vice president of motorized manufacturing. In each position, he earned his colleagues’ trust and the responsibility of overseeing increasingly complex operations.
Despite the demands of managing one of the largest motorized RV manufacturing divisions in the world, Austin remains grounded in the values of family and community. Austin devotes much of his free time to his wife, Kelsie, and their three children, who are very active in sports. He also gives back to his community as the head junior varsity basketball coach at his former high school and in his church.
Austin’s advice for up-and-coming leaders in the RV industry:
My advice to future leaders of the RV Industry is to continue to reflect and work on yourself. There are always opportunities to grow your knowledge and leadership skills. Also work hard to be a reliable figure for your team and most importantly stay people focused as they are the foundation of your team.
What it means to Austin to be a 40 Under 40 honoree:
I’ve grown up and lived around the RV industry my whole life and have many family members and friends who built careers in the RV industry. It is a great honor to receive this award, and I give thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way. I look forward to continuing to grow Jayco and the RV industry as a whole.
