Chanse Walker is a second-generation Airstream associate who is described as having unmatched passion and dedication to the Airstream brand. With such a long career, Chanse and his leadership team were able to navigate the contraction of the RV industry post COVID-19.
Chanse and his team helped Airstream navigate the resulting dip in production levels with skillful management of staffing, implementing aggressive cross-training programs and repurposing of personnel to avoid losing key skills in a rapidly changing workforce.
“Chanse has been instrumental in overseeing the growth of our Lean department and company culture, instituting a rewards program that has resulted in significant cost savings for the organization. He managed a Lean-focused internal training program that resulted in nearly 2,000 training guides for our production associates.”
Chanse was a key voice in the process as Airstream constructed a new manufacturing facility for travel trailers that opened in 2020. Since moving to his role as director of manufacturing, the production processes have improved, resulting in higher quality metrics and lower warranty costs. He worked his way up from the production floor, earned his engineering degree and held positions in product development and as the leader of the Lean/Continuous Improvement department before recently taking over as director of manufacturing for the towables division, Airstream’s largest manufacturing group.
Chanse says his biggest accomplishment is personally being involved in Airstream’s growth over the years. While the journey hasn’t always been easy, he says the good days far outweigh the bad. As a leader, he notes it has been rewarding to see team members advance their own careers as they’re promoted within the company.
“Having started at Airstream barely old enough to vote and going from assembling trailers to currently leading that same trailer plant is incredibly humbling,” he says. “It is truly an honor to be nominated by the people I work with — the Airstream leadership team.”
In his spare time, Chanse and his family are active in the outdoors and have a passion for fitness and well-being, even converting their barn into a fitness center.
Chanse’s advice for upcoming leaders in the RV space:
“Don’t forget the roots you came from — we are all human, given life and owed nothing. Go into everything you do with standards you refuse to lower, have a high moral code and be respectful to everyone no matter their stature. I learned early in my career, as a leader you take care of the people who take care of you. The people you lead every day deserve the support and respect from you to help them be their best every day, but also want to be their best every day.”