(Fairfax, VA) – Mary Anne Shreve will join RVDA -- The National RV Dealers Association -- as editor on August 10. Shreve, a former senior editor at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), is an award-winning editor with more than 20 years of experience producing print and online content for trade associations, publications, and newspapers.

“Mary Anne will be a superb addition to the RVDA staff team,” said RVDA President Mike Molino. “She has a keen understanding of the business issues facing dealers which will enable RVDA to enhance the content we deliver to members and the industry through RV Executive Today magazine, our website, social media, and online newsletters.”

Shreve is a two-time recipient of the Washington Automotive Press Association’s Golden Quill Award and has also earned recognition for journalistic excellence from the Missouri School of Journalism (Magnum Opus Award) and the American Society of Association Executives (Gold Circle Award).

Shreve succeeds Melissa Broadus, who is moving on to become Communications Director for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America in Arlington, VA.

RVDA is the national association representing RV retailers. The association's members include RV dealers, RV rental operators, and RV AfterMarket sales and service locations.

The truck-and trailer-rental industry lost a long-time advocate and innovator on July 22, with the passing of John Abromavage Sr. He was 78.

Abromavage, a 52-year employee of U-Haul International, Inc., was the director of the Company's Engineering Services Department for more than 40 years.

Abromavage also was an Air Force flight engineer during the Korean Conflict, flying approximately 152 missions in B-25s, B-29s, C-46s and C-119s, to name but a few.

Abromavage was active in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for more than 30 years, serving as chair of its Trailer and Standards Committees. Abromavage worked closely with, and presented U-Haul Company's and the industry's viewpoint to legislative bodies, regulatory agencies, enforcement agencies, and automotive and engineering societies and organizations.

Abromavage enjoyed a national reputation for his expertise in vehicle safety and design. He received numerous awards and commendations from state governments for helping to improve vehicle safety standards. His knowledge and experience in accident-prevention methods were sought out by law-enforcement agencies throughout the country.

His list of engineering accomplishments is impressive and extensive: 31 U.S. and Canadian patents, 75 international patents and 24 solidly proven truck and trailer designs. (A sketch pad was never far from Abromavage's side, and he was forever jotting down notes and drawing up product-improvement ideas.)

In 1959, Abromavage was involved with the design and manufacturing of the U-Haul HV trailer, which was the first tandem trailer with brakes.

And in 1967, following the birth of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Abromavage led testing to prove that towing with a trailer was, indeed, an efficient and effective option for do-it-yourself movers.

Though not many people have heard the word "luten," millions of people know them as "Mom's Attic" on the front of the van box over the cab of U-Haul trucks. Abromavage was there for that one, too.

In an interview in 2008, Abromavage explained. "Back in 1970, (U-Haul co-founder) L.S. Shoen went to Europe and saw what was on the road in England. During seven days in June, we spec'd out a whole new van body. Now, of course, you see that truck style everywhere, but U-Haul was the company that brought the convenience and extra storage capacity of overcab space to the self-moving public."

"John stood up for the U-Haul customer for decades," stated U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen. "His passing is sad. He has left a legacy of work product and a work ethic. We should honor him by maintaining these standards."

Abromavage is survived by his son, John, and his daughter, Tammy.

John will be interred at the National Cemetery in Phoenix in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations in John's name be made to one of the following:

ALS Association Arizona Chapter
4643 E. Thomas Road Suite 1
Phoenix, AZ 85012
webaz.alsa.org

Hospice of the Valley
1510 E. Flower St.
Phoenix, AZ 85014
hov.org/donations.aspx

ELKHART, Ind. - Vixen Composites, LLC has announced its management team in anticipation of start-up operations this quarter at 2965 LaVanture Place. The newly established company announced last January that it was investing $6.1 million in equipment and improvements to the 98,000-square-foot LaVanture Place facility, which will serve as Vixen's manufacturing headquarters.

Gregg Fore, president of Vixen, said start-up plans are on schedule and the new company is primed to make an impact in the RV industry. Vixen specializes in structural and exterior composite panels that allow RVs to become more lightweight while also improving structural integrity and durability. Vixen will also serve the commercial trailer, trucking and marine markets. It is affiliated with Dicor Corporation, a long-time supplier for the RV industry located in Elkhart. Fore is also president of Dicor.

"We see this as a great opportunity to work with our RV manufacturing partners in building a better RV. We intend to be on the leading edge of wood-free, composite technology. Lighter, sturdier, and trouble-free after the sale is what the market is demanding," said Fore. "We're very confident the core management group we have assembled will enable us to expertly serve that demand."

Leadership Team
Gordon Frost will serve as Vixen General Manager. Frost has more than 21 years of engineering, manufacturing and marketing experience, most recently serving as Dicor's Product Manager, Construction Materials. Prior to his association with Dicor, Frost worked nine years for Owens Corning - Fabwel Division/Crane Composites. During that tenure he served as Technical Director/Technical Leader, Manager of Research and Development, and Application Engineer. He also received the Slayter Award for Innovation for his work in developing the CTEC™ all-composite, wood-free, high-gloss exterior sidewall RV sidewall panel. He holds multiple U.S. patents and is Six Sigma Black Belt trained.

Joe Kromkowski will be Director of Operations. Kromkowski comes to Vixen from General Sheet Metal Works of South Bend and Tomah, Wis., where he served as Director, Production Operations. In this capacity he led an operations team that included Production, Engineering, ISO 9001 Quality Management, and Continuous Improvement of both the South Bend and Tomah facilities. Prior to that he was Vice President, Operations for Tydenbrammall, Angola, Ind., where he directed financial/business and operational enhancements for the manufacture of high volume cargo security seals. Other positions over his 28-year career have included Director of Corporate Engineering and Quality, Project Engineer, and Senior Automation Engineer. He is also Six Sigma Black Belt trained.

Tom Conn has been named Director of Sales. Conn has 25 years of industry sales experience, including Sales Manager for Alpha Systems LLC of Elkhart, a manufacturer of products for the RV, marine and manufactured housing industries. He has also held the position of Vice President for Mito Corporation, a distributor of 12-volt automotive aftermarket products.

Vixen plans to create up to 34 new jobs by 2012. "We expect our team to make Vixen a leader in its field, and that includes the same service, resourcefulness and reliability that Dicor Corporation and its affiliated companies are known for."

For more information about Dicor Corp., its products, and affiliated companies, visit www.dicor.com.

Keith Corson, who founded Coachmen Industries with his brothers, died Wednesday afternoon in Elkhart General Hospital.

Although Corson retired from the recreational vehicle industry more than a decade ago, he still was regarded with respect and affection.

"We certainly always viewed Coachmen and the Corson family as personal and professional friends," said Derald Bontrager, president and chief operation office of Jayco. "We had a tremendous amount of respect for the Corson family and the legacy they have left the industry."

In an interview with The Elkhart Truth in 2008, Corson talked about running the company with his brothers and sister, then added a touch of his trademark humor.

"We all had strengths and weaknesses," he said. "I had most of the weaknesses."

Sid Johnson, director of marketing for Jayco, joined Coachmen in 1975 and reported directly to Corson. He considered Corson a personal friend as well as a professional colleague and credited him with much of Coachmen's success.

"There aren't many people in the RV industry or anywhere that I have as much respect for as I had for Keith," Johnson said. "He was not only an RV industry leader, he was the backbone of Coachmen Industries in its early days and its growth period."

Corson's passing follows the death of his brother, Claude, who died in May 9 at the age of 80. According to his obituary, Keith Corson, 74, had been battling an extended illness.

In 1964, the three Corson brothers, Claude, Keith and Tom, started Corson Car and Coach Co. A short time later, they changed the name to Coachmen Industries and built the company into a leader that provided a training ground for many of the managers and company owners working in the industry.

"It was wonderful," Corson told The Truth. "It was just a lot of fun starting a company from scratch."

Corson left Coachmen in the early 1980s to pursue other business interests but returned in 1991 as president. He retired in 2000.

Johnson described Corson as having a "wonderful sense of humor" and remembered the days when Corson would use the companywide paging system to call him ("Sid Johnson. Sid Johnson. 206, please") instead of just picking up the phone.

"He brought integrity, honesty, a great deal of contemplation and thought process to do things the way they should be done," Johnson said. "I think probably the biggest thing he drove home to me was the importance of honesty in all your dealings in business and doing what you say you're going to do."