Meet Yi Shen, The RV Industry Association’s New Staff Attorney

The RV Industry Association welcomes Yi Shen as its new Staff Attorney. This important role provides essential support for the Association’s internal legal department and other teams across the organization, as well as interfaces with members, federal regulators, and others.

Yi, who grew up in Richmond, VA, completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia before continuing his education at the Catholic University of America, where he obtained his J.D. Yi’s career path includes extensive experience as an associate attorney in private practice and was most recently a real estate specialist for the Arlington County government.

In Yi’s new role as Staff Attorney, he will be assisting the Association’s legal team: “I've taken over responsibility for contract review and management and am supporting project goals, such as helping to plan the Lawyers Committee meeting agenda and working on matters related to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

Yi also uses his legal expertise to advise other Association departments. “I’ve been supporting our Government Affairs team with their PFAS advocacy,” he says. “I’ve also advised the RV Technical Institute related to its training materials.”

Yi adds that his favorite part of his role is meeting with Association members.  “I think building that human connection is crucial for this job, and the Association’s legal team really prioritizes relationship building,” he explains. 

Additionally, Yi is interested in RV market dynamics: “I’m really interested in the business aspect of the RV industry and learning how it works. That context helps inform my legal analysis to decide priorities and how I can help achieve those business goals within a legal framework.”

Yi finds the RV industry meaningful after a childhood spent enjoying the great outdoors with his family. “Growing up, my dad was a very avid camper,” he recalls. “We never had an RV, but we would go camping multiple times a year, so I have an appreciation for the outdoors. Hearing Craig Kirby talk about the three-legged stool— how manufacturers/suppliers, dealers, and campgrounds help service this larger overall outdoor recreation industry— has changed the way I view outdoor recreation.”

Yi adds: “This is a multi-billion-dollar industry that supports so many good, bipartisan causes that everyone can get behind, like conservation and spending time outdoors with family. To this day, I still go hiking, camping, and enjoy outdoor activities. And seeing how we fit into all of that really makes it that much more investing, because I see how the overall industry is good for our community and our country at large.”