EXCLUSIVE: RV Technical Institute In-Person Classes Delayed

A Photo of Curt Hemmeler, RVTI executive director

The RV Technical Institute (RVTI) hoped to bring back in-person training classes in March, but Executive Director Curt Hemmeler said those plans have been postponed until June 1.

Hemmeler said signups to attend in-person training had been going well. RVTI planned to tell potential attendees before February’s end whether in-person classes would launch in March. The final decision came in consultation with RVIA’s Executive Committee, which met in early February.

“There was equal interest for face-to-face, almost to the same level as online training,” Hemmeler said.

RVTI’s goal, he said, is to continue working to ensure technicians gain equal outcomes whether conducting education through in-person or online services.

The latest RVTI Board of Directors meeting, conducted Jan. 27, was highlighted by 2021 goals approval. Hemmeler said those goals included getting the Level 2 online training version launched – he said the June 1 target launch date remains on track. Other approved goals included increasing RVTI’s authorized learning partners and focusing on Level 3 training.

The board meeting was the first conducted by new Chairwoman Mary Pouliot. The Thetford Corp. vice president of sales and marketing became a board member in 2020 and has been involved with RVTI since its 2018 launch.

“Mary has such a deep commitment and passion for training,” Hemmeler said. “She has a great vision for where RVTI and tech training needs to go and the experience to get us there. I could not be more excited to have her as our chairwoman of the board.”

Two new board members were in attendance at the meeting: Camping World Director of Training Brad Woods and Cummins Corporation Director of RV Business Garry Enyart.

“The contributions Brad brings to the board is vital,” Hemmeler said. “Camping World was our very first authorized learning partner, and he brings significant insight and direction as we continue to roll out our hub and spoke model to partners across the country. And the RV Technical was created under Garry’s leadership of the RV Industry Association Board. The expertise Garry brings in addressing the customer experience through his spearheading efforts to address the repair event cycle time (RECT) is invaluable.”

Other board members include: April Klein-Carroll of Lippert, Don Clark of Grand Design, Doug Gaeddert of Forest River, Ken Julian of Thor Industries, Bob Parish of Wells Fargo, Tim Wegge of Burlington RV, Chris Andro of Hemlock Hill RV, Jeff Rutherford of Airxcel, Phil Ingrassia of RVDA and Craig Kirby of RVIA.

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