Diana LeBlanc-Link, outgoing president of PPL Motor Homes, an RV consignment dealership, shares her inspiring story. She started with the company more than 40 years ago, answering an ad in a Houston jobs sheet for someone looking for a receptionist. She quickly rose through the ranks to general manager and spent the past decade as its president. (Sponsored by LiquidSpring)

Frankie Barouti of California’s Giant RV talks about the challenges still being caused by COVID, and why he sees his sales lots as similar to the produce section at a grocery store. The company is in its fourth decade in business, started by his father from scratch, and it has four locations around Southern California. (Sponsored by Star brite)

Mike Hesse took over as head of Blue Ox in 2017, having come from another industry. But he’s worked hard to put his own stamp on the venerable tow and hitch company. Sponsored by Motility Software Solutions

Inspired by a cross-country camping trip with his son, Earl B. Hunter Jr. took on what he now considers his life’s work: founding Black Folks Camp Too. He believes the marketing of the RV and outdoor recreation industry has largely ignored Black people. Hunter, a sales and marketing veteran, aims to change that.

Indiana’s RV Technical Institute had just graduated its first class when COVID-19 turned the world upside down last March. Executive Director Curt Hemmeler discusses how they changed the original schedule they had planned on, and the myriad ways RV technician training is offered today.

Jamison Carrier, leader of dealership consulting firm Relentless Dealer Services, talks about a very important subject that he feels might be oft overlooked: F&I. He’ll talk about why it matters, how to maximize its profit potential in your dealership, and what to look for to see whether your F&I strategy is working or not.

Bob Brammer, president of Stromberg Carlson, discusses what it takes to fend off the competition, both foreign and domestic. He also walks through the lessons his company learned from almost a full year of battling COVID-19. Lesson one: Take care of your people.

Jason Krantz, founder and CEO of Strategy Titan, explains how dealers can utilize data to gain an edge on their competition. He delves into the type of analytics dealers should pay attention to and why that information is important. Going with a “gut feel,” he says, is no longer enough.

Roadtrek CEO Dane Found shares how the company is on the path to restoring its reputation for being the gold standard in Class B motorhomes. He discusses his strategy and how Covid-19 affected those plans, as well as the inherent challenge in designing and building Class B’s.

Mark Podeyn of New Mexico’s Action RV talks about life as an independent service shop owner and how similar shops will continue to play a vital role in the industry. Also, Podeyn discusses his work with the RV Technical Institute, and why he feels training is key to the ongoing health of the industry.