Family means a lot to Grand Design co-founder and CEO Don Clark. RVIA noted when he talks about his children, pride is heard in his voice – the same tone when Clark talks about his employees.
RVIA detailed the “different kind” of company that Clark helped to build in 2012. Him and his co-founders, brothers Bill and Ron Fenech, placed an importance on family within Grand Design’s work culture.
Today, Grand Design RV employs more than 2,500 team members at its Middlebury, Indiana, manufacturing facility. The company builds one brand for each segment within the travel trailer, fifth wheel and toy hauler markets. Clark said him and his partners chose unit names based on the “emotional desires” of customers: Transcend, Imagine, Reflection, Solitude and Momentum.
“We have a very unique business model, and it has proven to be very successful for our customers, dealers and our company,” Clark said. “All of our brands are among the top in each of the segments we compete in.”
Clark noted service and quality being top Grand Design priorities since its start.
“We put in place protocols and extra inspection processes to ensure that our products are ready to display, sell and be efficiently customer prepped when they arrive at our dealerships,” he said. “We do not use our dealers as the last 50 yards of our production line.”
Clark credited RVIA and the Go RVing campaign as a great resource for attracting customers.
“The RV Industry Association working with the RV Dealers Association has helped to grow our reach and to forge relationships throughout the industry,” Clark said.
When asked about the Elkhart and surrounding labor market, Clark said, “It is no secret that northern Indiana’s labor market is tight. However, we have built a reputation of being a desirable place to have a career. We treat our team members fairly, respect their personal time and remain transparent in the direction of our company.”
After 38 years in the industry, Clark said he still feels fortunate to work with people who are as inspired by RVs as he is. Helping customers build relationships and memories is “very meaningful” to him.
“You get to know them and it is so rewarding to see how your product – that your team has designed and built – has made a difference in their families’ lives,” Clark said. “That makes me incredibly proud to be in an industry as great as the RV industry.”
