RV Industry Association Presents Awards, Celebrates Excellence During RVs Move America Week

Throughout RVs Move America Week 2026, the RV Industry Association recognized several individuals for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of the RV industry. 

Awards were presented in recognition of exceptional service and achievements in the areas of RV standards, industry unity, and government affairs. The Association’s Awards Committee oversees the annual program and works with staff and industry colleagues to identify, nominate, and name honorees. 

1) Matt Carboneau, Strategic Account Manager for Wesco, was the recipient of the National Service Award, in recognition of his service on the RV Industry Association Board of Directors and the Government Affairs, Governance, and Supplier committees. His engagement reflects a deep commitment to advancing sound policy, strong organizational leadership, and the vital role of suppliers within the association and RV market. The award was presented during the Association’s annual meeting on Monday, June 2, which included the yearly awards presentation. 

2) Whitney Holtz, the President of Windish RV Center, Airstream of Colorado, Airstream of Utah, and Airstream of Wyoming, was the recipient of the National Education Service Award, honoring her passion for workforce development that has helped create new pathways for students to discover meaningful careers in the RV industry. She is an alumna of the Littleton Public School system, and her leadership directly led to the inclusion of the RVTI program within the course offerings at Littleton Public Schools’ EPIC Campus. Most notably, Whitney Holtz is a pioneer in this space. Her leadership has helped RVTI create a repeatable “playbook” for partnering with high schools, one that can now be scaled and implemented in communities across the country. This honor was also presented during the Monday awards presentation.

3) The National Legislative Award was presented to Representative Rudy Yakym (R-IN-2) and Representative Dina Titus (D-NV-1). They received recognition for their dedicated advocacy on behalf of the RV industry and their role in reintroducing the Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act, which groups all RVs, including towables, in the definition of "motor vehicles," thereby allowing all RVs to be fully deductible. This legislation was ultimately included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and benefits RV dealers and manufacturers nationwide. The award was presented to both representatives on Advocacy Day, which took place on Wednesday, June 3.

4) The David J. Humphreys RV Industry Unity Award was presented to Toby O’Rourke, President & CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc., for her extensive collaboration efforts between the RV industry, campground community, and outdoor hospitality leaders. O’Rourke was also recognized for KOA’s impressive contributions to outdoor recreation research, as well as her collaborative nature and positive attitude. The award was presented at the RV Industry Association Board of Directors Meeting on Thursday, June 4.

5) The Distinguished Service to the RV Industry Award recipient is Bob Martin, President and CEO of THOR Industries. Over 12 years of service on the Board of Directors, including his role on the Executive Committee as Secretary and contributions to both the Audit and Strategic Planning committees, Bob has consistently provided thoughtful leadership, sound governance, and a steady voice. His dedication, leadership, and commitment to advancing the broader RV industry make him exceptionally deserving of this highest honor. The award will be presented at a future date.

6) The Distinguished Achievement in RV Standards Award recipient is Martin Perlot, the recently retired founder of Silverleaf Electronics. He has been a member of the RV Industry Association and its technical subcommittees for nearly 25 years.  Martin served as Chair of the RV-C Subcommittee from its inception until a few years ago.  He was among the first to identify the critical need for the RV industry to develop a specialized Controller Area Network (CAN) that would enable various components within a unit’s overall system to communicate with one another. In recent years, Martin has led an ongoing, comprehensive expansion of this document that incorporates wireless communication capabilities. He is truly the “Father of the RV-C” and deserving of this recognition. The award will be presented at a future date.