Meet Jack Holt, The RV Industry Association’s New Manager of Federal Affairs

The RV Industry Association’s Government Affairs staff are the industry experts for our members, state legislators, regulators, and RV industry stakeholders. Their federal and state affairs teams champion the RV industry on Capitol Hill and closely follow relevant legislation and policies. To assist with these advocacy efforts, the Government Affairs department recently onboarded a new Manager of Federal Affairs, Jack Holt. 

Originally from Buffalo, WY, Jack attended Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history.

After graduating in 2020, Jack attended law school at the University of Wyoming College of Law. During his time at law school, Jack interned for a summer with the Department of Justice as a law clerk in the homicide unit.He also worked at Ireland, Stapleton, Pryor and Pascoe PC.,  a civil litigation firm in Denver, Colorado. After graduating, Jack passed his bar exam in Washington, D.C. 

During this time, Jack’s legislative focus shifted towards outdoor recreation. “I joined the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee as a Junior Council. Senator Barrasso (R-WY)—my Senator from Wyoming—happened to be the Ranking Member of that committee at the time, so it was very fortuitous in that sense,” says Jack. “There were opportunities for me to help out with recreation issues, forestry issues, territories, and water issues. So, I helped pick up a lot of those efforts. Most of my committee work was related to water policies. I was also able to work on the EXPLORE Act, primarily on the recreation aspect, and we were excited to get that over the finish line.”

As the Association’s Manager of Federal Affairs, Jack is largely focused on advocating for and safeguarding public lands so that those spaces can continue to welcome RVers. “Most of our members, like manufacturers and suppliers, build the RVs that then go out onto the public lands,” he says. “I help ensure those RVs have a place to go, and that people can actually use them on our public lands. We want those outdoor spaces to be open and maintained so RVers can have a good experience when they go there.”

To achieve this, Jack will be focused on federal legislation that pertains to outdoor recreation. “A big part of my role will involve advocating for federal legislation for our members and talking to federal agencies about different regulations as different administrations come through. Ultimately, we’re making sure the RV industry is looked after no matter what happens.”

Jack adds that his favorite part of his role so far is working with RV Industry Association members: “We really want to be engaged with our members because we're working on behalf of them. Being able to work with them directly and get on the ground is something that I'm really excited about.”

When considering how the RV industry is meaningful to him, Jack reflects on his personal experiences with the outdoor recreation economy. “My hometown of Buffalo, WY, has less than 5,000 people, and is right next to the mountains,” he recalls. “I've seen how important the recreational economy is to these small communities. You could always tell when the rodeos or county fairs were in town because local businesses were thriving.”

“Growing up my point of view was always from the gateway community perspective,so I really understand the benefit of the RV industry,” he adds. “Tourism and events mean that motels are full, and restaurants are able to prosper. And during times when tourism lapses, businesses close that have been there for generations.”

“You can't understate how important the recreational economy is to a lot of these small communities. Community members can't always entirely bear the burden of keeping local businesses afloat. So having a recreational economy and tourists visiting in RVs and other vehicles is truly crucial. It’s a vital source of revenue.”