Daryll Milnikel: Grounded in Heritage, Focused on the Future

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, MI, 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.”

As President of the RV/MH Hall of Fame, Daryll steers the nonprofit’s daily management and event strategy. “My role includes working with my Board members on long-term financial strategies,” he explains. “I also work with our maintenance team to determine how best to care for our 40-acre campus. Additionally, I collaborate with our team to plan and execute major industry functions, including our weeklong Elkhart RV Dealer Open House, which hosts 5,000 attendees  on campus.”

“There’s always something new, and I wear many hats. We have a very small team of six full-time employees, and we accomplish a lot throughout the year,” Daryll continues. “We partner with all kinds of different RV manufactured housing companies, as well as associations— like the RV Industry Association— to execute different events, including RV shows and our recent Hall of Fame Induction Dinner.”

Daryll sees a bright future for the RV/MH Hall of Fame, noting that the nonprofit is entering a particularly exciting chapter. “Our finances are in a really strong place. We're not just keeping the lights on; we're planning improvements to our stories and our exhibits,” he says. “We're partnering with companies throughout the industry on how we can tell their story and their unique lineage. We haven’t had an opportunity to do this in the past, and we’re putting together a long-term roadmap, both with the Board and our Museum team, on how we can do an even better job at telling more stories and sharing that with the masses.”

Additionally, Daryll is continuing the RV/MH Hall of Fame’s strong relationship with the RV Industry Association: “Throughout the year, we work alongside numerous Association member companies to host their events, key seminars and trainings. Going forward, we're also looking to host Association tours. We would bring in different groups of Association member companies and give them guided tours through the museum.”

Daryll and his team also recently worked with the RV Industry Association to open the RV Hall of Fame for a USA Today documentary highlighting the RV industry in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.