Leadership Conference

The RV Industry Association's Leadership Conference brings together top-tier executive management, as well as next generation leaders from across all segments of the RV industry who are spearheading change in our dynamic industry. Held March 4-6, 2025, the conference will feature a mix of keynote addresses and panels, impactful networking, and leadership development. The conference sessions and panels are designed to help nurture talent, provide a space to develop a deeper understanding of critical industry issues, and connect with the next generation of leaders in the RV industry.

 

Who Should Attend

RV industry manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, campgrounds, media and marketing leaders are welcome to attend!

Attendee Registration Rate: $795 (includes all sessions, speakers, meals, activities and networking events)
Spouse Registration Rate: $295 (includes all meals, activities and networking events)

 

Hotel

Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass
5594 W Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Phoenix, Arizona, 85226
Reservations: (866) 837-4156 
Group Rate: $369/night + tax

There's something for everyone at the Sheraton Grand Resort at Wild Horse Pass. From the four pools with waterfalls and a 111-foot waterslide to horseback riding at the Koli Equestrian Center, paddleboards, kayaks, and river boats navigating a sprawling re-creation of the Gila River and the gorgeous surrounding desert scenery view. Discover Arizona's rich cultural heritage at Wild Horse Pass. The hotel cut-off date was February 7, 2025.

 

Schedule At-A-Glance

Monday, March 3 

• All Day: Board Arrivals
• 3:00pm - 5:00pm RV Industry Association EC Meeting (Gila Monster)
• 5:00pm - 7:00pm: Joint Board Reception (Hanyo at the River)

Tuesday, March 4

• All Day: Conference Arrivals
• 8:00am - Noon: RV Industry Association Board of Directors' Meeting (Komatke Ballroom)
• 8:00am - Noon: RV Dealers Association Board of Directors' Meeting (Gila Monster)
• 12:30pm: Golf at Whirlwind Golf Club
  • Whirlwind Golf Club is a truly unique Southwest golf experience sensitively designed to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Gila River Indian Community. Surrounded by spectacular mountains, this unique golf venue was also home to the PGA’s Nationwide Insurance Tour, Gila River Golf Classic for five years.
• 1:00pm - 3:00pm: RV Learning Center Board Meeting (Gila Monster)
• 2:00pm - 4:00pm: Government Affairs Committee Meeting (Rattlesnake)
• 3:00pm - 5:00pm: Go RVing Board Meeting (Komatke Ballroom)
• 6:00pm - 8:00pm: Leadership Conference Welcome Reception (Hemapik Lawn)

Wednesday, March 5 (All Sessions to take place in Komatke Ballroom)

• 8:00am - 10:00am: Group Team-Building Activity: Tin Can Putt Putt (Komatke Ballroom Pre-Function)
  • Get ready to tee off on an extraordinary team-building adventure! Unleash your team's creativity and camaraderie as you construct a mini golf masterpiece using non-perishable food items. It's not just about constructing an innovative course; it's about sinking putts, building bridges out of spaghetti, and creating towering structures with canned goods. As teams navigate the fairway of teamwork, they'll face friendly competition in a mini golf tournament, where prizes await not only for the most imaginative hole but also for the cleverest use of foodie fairway elements.
  • Breakfast for activity participants from 7am-8am
• 11:00am - 11:05am: Welcome Remarks
• 11:05am - 12:00pm: RV Industry Leadership Panel
  • Featuring Doug Gaeddert, CEO of Forest River, April Klein-Carroll, SVP of Customer Support Services at Lippert and Jarrod McGhee, CEO of Fun Town RV. The session will be moderated by Craig Kirby, President and CEO of the RV Industry Association.
• 12:00pm - 12:45pm: Lunch
• 12:45pm - 1:00pm: RV Business Leadership Awards
• 1:00pm - 1:45pm: Leadership Keynote - Chris Duffy
  • Chris Duffy is a comedian, television writer, and radio/podcast host. Aside from his comedy prowess, Duffy is also recognized for his hosting role on TED's hit podcast, "How to Be a Better Human," where he explores unexpected paths to self-improvement, offering sharp insights and fresh ideas for how we can show up for one another.
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: Park Perspectives
  • 2:00pm - 2:20pm: Erin Curtis, Vice President, Marketing & Development at Genesis Products - Weight, Sustainability and the Future of Construction Materials
  • 2:20pm - 2:40pm: Sara Dover, Brand Manager, Activation at Dometic and Terry Jones, Product Development Manager at THOR Motor Coach - Tools for New RV Industry Workers
  • 2:40pm - 3:00pm: Tim Edwards, Director of Human Resources - People Management at THOR Industries - Taking Care of Our Talent
• 3:00pm - 5:00pm: Workshop: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence During a Media Crisis with Molly McPherson
  • Molly McPherson is renowned for transforming chaos into control. By day, she is a leading crisis communication strategist while also moonlighting as TikTok's “PR Lady.” Discover how to spot escalating social media crises and tackle them head-on to safeguard your brand's reputation. Walk away with insider tips and powerful insights to take control when everything feels out of control. From recognizing the early warning signs, to quickly sizing up the situation, deciding when to jump in the fray or hold back, and developing powerful responses that nail the perfect timing and platform, take back the narrative, rebuild trust with transparency, and manage the media to boost your reputation.
• 6:00pm - 9:00pm: Dinner Reception (KOLI Equestrian Center - Departures will start at 5:45pm from Aji Spa)

Thursday, March 6 (All Sessions to take place in Komatke Ballroom)

• 8:00am - 10:00am: Horseback Riding at the KOLI Equestrian Center (LIMIT – 30 people)
  • Join us as we shuttle over to the adjacent KOLI Equestrian Center for a unique horseback riding experience on the Gila River Indian Community, combining Native American enrichment with Western-style riding. Experienced wranglers will provide insights into the community, land, history, and culture, ensuring an adventure unlike any other in Arizona.  Adjacent to the Sheraton Grand, they offer some of the finest horseback riding in the area, with miles of breathtaking desert trails and stunning vistas. Riders of all skill levels are welcome to participate.
• 8:00am - 10:00am: Walking / Running Trail
  • Attendees who are unable to join us for Horseback Riding are welcome to kick off the morning for a hike as we immerse ourselves in the culture, history, and plant life of the Gila River Indian Community along 3.8 miles of Interpretive Trails. The trails feature a paved 1.3-mile riverwalk path and a 2.5-mile natural path that meanders through indigenous desert flora along the re-creation of the Gila River. At the end, take a moment to embrace the peace and solitude of the desert before returning to being a full day of leadership sessions.
• 11:00am - 12:00pm: Panel: Navigating Change and Advancing Policy Priorities
  • As the political landscape shifts with the incoming administration, the RV and outdoor recreation industries face new challenges and opportunities. Tune in as our panel, featuring Jess (Wahl) Turner, President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Mark Weller, Shareholder at Polsinelli Law Firm and Cliff Costa, Vice President at California Advocates, offers an in-depth analysis of how they work to keep the industry’s priorities front and center and push them over the finish line. Moderated by Jason Rano, Vice President of Government Affairs at the RV Industry Association, the discussion will also explore how the industry works with state and federal officials when they are often at odds with each other like the push and pull between California's progressive environmental policies, which often set the tone for national standards, and the new federal direction and what that means for manufacturers, outdoor recreationists, and policymakers alike.
• 12:00pm - 12:45pm: Lunch
• 12:45pm - 1:30pm: Leadership Keynote - David Epstein
  • David Epstein obsesses over mistranslations of scientific research and tries to temper the misconceptions that follow them. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World — which was a finalist for the Financial Times/McKinsey business book of the year — and of the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance. David's two TED Talks on human performance have been viewed more than 12 million times.
• 1:30pm - 2:00pm: Emerging Leaders Coalition Graduation/Induction Ceremonies
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: Park Perspectives
  • 2:00pm - 2:20pm: Monika Geraci, Sr. Director PR & Communications & Jeremy Greene, VP of Marketing at RV Industry Association - Decoding the American RV Owner
  • 2:20pm - 2:40pm: Bernd Loher, President of the Caravaning Industry Association (CIVD) - Update on the European RV Market
  • 2:40pm - 3:00pm: Stuart Lamont, Chief Executive Officer of Caravan Industry Association of Australia - Update on the Australian RV Market
• 3:00pm - 5:00pm: Building Your Leadership Brand - Dustin Kaehr
  • As you show up daily to do your job and build and lead your team, the Leadership Brand you are building is critical to your current and future success. In this captivating session, you will discover the impact of personal clarity and focus on professional outcomes. Along with uncovering the four areas that make up your Leadership Brand, you will gain insight into how your personality type impacts you, your leadership, and everyone around you. Before the session, all participants will receive a copy of a Myers-Briggs Type Inventory to complete and bring with them.
• 5:00pm - 5:10pm: Closing Remarks
• 5:30pm - 7:30pm: Leadership Conference Closing Reception (Komatke Ballroom Pre-Function)

Friday, March 7: Departures

 

Contact The Team

Conference Management: Jeremy Greene / 571-665-5871
Registration: Kelly Smith / 571-665-5872
Sponsorship: Dana DelVelcchio / 571-665-5848
Hotel: Michelle Biersner / 303-868-2787