Tending to the plants in our front yard, a breeze rustles the leaves as the sun begins to set. I look up—the wind draws my eyes to our American flag, affixed to the front of our house, flying proudly in the wind. Instantly, a core memory fills my mind.
I am at this plant for my first day. We are touring the facility, as the GM introduces me to his team. As we turn the corner, I hear a familiar sound from my childhood, the whirring of sewing machines. He looks to me, gestures and says, “This is our sewing department. Here, we sew many things; one of which is American flags.”
I think of my mother and grandmothers: they would love this. With a smile, I turn and wave to the hard-working women making beautiful American flags. The next day, I spent time with each woman on the line, learning their process and celebrating their trade.
On the trip home, I called my mother. With pride, I shared that Lippert makes American flags. Not only that, but the team is passionate about the quality of their work and what their work represents.
Back in the present moment, looking at our well-crafted handmade American flag my thoughts continue: “I’m proud to fly this flag… for three reasons…
- I know the flag is made in America;
- I know the hands who expertly made it on our Lippert team; and
- I am proud for what the flag stands for–an everyday reminder of who we are as a nation.”
This flag is much more than fabric. The flag represents freedom, independence and innovation—the very spirit that built our country.
With curiosity and gratitude, I began to wonder:
- What does this flag represent for our industry?
- How did the past leadership of our country shape the RV industry we know today?
The first answer came naturally. This flag represents an industry and decades of leadership, dedicated to building in America, for America.
To answer the second, I had to do a little research.
Stepping inside my home, my fingers could not type fast enough.
I researched the history of our American roads and national parks, and the leadership and innovation that made them happen. Here is what inspired me along the way.
Explorers, Builders and Dreamers
Our industry is the result of centuries of visionary leadership, from early pioneers and national park advocates to the entrepreneurs and engineers who saw the potential for growth, progress and mobile freedom. Who were these people, I wondered.
In my research, I learned that American leadership began with 18th-century explorers who mapped the boundaries of a new nation. In the mid-1700s, George Washington—surveyor, traveler and our first president—laid the foundation for the open roads we enjoy today. By 1811, the National Road became one of the first major improved highways in the U.S., stretching from Maryland to Illinois.
In the mid-1800s, Abraham Lincoln’s leadership and support for the Transcontinental Railroad helped unify the nation, just as steam-powered vehicles began laying the groundwork for recreational travel. These innovations became the backbone of American mobility and the RV culture.
In 1903, Theodore Roosevelt camped in Yosemite with naturalist John Muir, laying the foundation for the National Park Service. Their leadership ensured future generations could explore our country’s natural beauty through protected lands such as Yosemite and Sequoia.
During the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt launched the Civilian Conservation Corps, putting young Americans to work building roads, bridges and campgrounds—many of which are still in use today. In 1956, Dwight Eisenhower’s Federal Aid Highway Act created 41,000 miles of interstate highways, revolutionizing mobility.
By the 1960s and ’70s, camping was a mainstream family activity, and the RV was a symbol of freedom and individualism.
Grateful for those who came before us, I realized I would not be in this role today without their leadership.
Every RV that rolls off the line is more than a product. The RV is a symbol of American ingenuity and the leadership that evolves with each generation.
What can we learn from leaders of the past? Will the leadership that got us here get us there?
Leadership’s Evolution
Washington’s visionary leadership was marked by integrity and humility. Lincoln provided servant leadership and moral clarity. Theodore Roosevelt showed a bold and charismatic drive for reform and conservation. Franklin Roosevelt personified resilience during economic hardship. Eisenhower showed pragmatic, strategic collaboration.
Each leader offers a distinct style: visionary, human, collaborative, resilient or transformational. Their styles mirror the adaptive and value-driven leadership we continue to work toward in our industry.
Our industry leadership was once like WWII U.S. Army General George Patton’s style—authoritative, gruff, unrelenting and deeply patriotic. Today’s world demands a different approach. Still deeply patriotic, today’s RV sector leadership is evolving from command-and-control toward collaboration, empathy and flexibility. Leadership forms and shapes with the times, like a storm ridding of debris, leaving only what is essential.
Servant leadership—an essential quality exemplified by Lincoln—emphasizes a leader’s role in serving their team while prioritizing their growth and well-being. Today, we strive to carry on that legacy at Lippert Components. We lead with a modern, human-centered approach. We cultivate a culture of caring, values-based decision-making and personal growth.
Through initiatives such as Lippert Cares, we have surpassed 1 million hours of community service, empowering team members to make a difference beyond the workplace. In an industry once shaped by authoritative leadership, Lippert’s model proves that servant leadership is compassionate and strategic, driving engagement, retention and long-term performance.
Leadership like this has the power to transform entire systems and shape lives for generations, much like the visionaries who founded our nation.
How do we lead both business and culture well through these current-day challenges?
Strategic Leadership
At Lippert, our core value is passionate about winning: “Inspiring the team to relentlessly pursue the integration of our business and cultural strategies.” The value challenges us daily to integrate both with purpose.
Today, we must be strategic when leading people while navigating the complexity of emergent challenges: labor shortages, global disruptions, sustainability and digital transformation. Among the most pressing challenges facing our industry is the growing skills gap. For every five skilled tradespeople leaving the workforce, only one is entering to replace them. This trend could leave millions of essential jobs unfilled by 2030.
At Lippert, we believe our shared responsibility is to close this gap by investing in the next generation of tradespeople. Our “Rooted in Trades” initiative is taking a proactive approach to address this issue.
By investing in programs like Lippert Scholars, RV Tech School and hands-on training and apprenticeship initiatives, we are working to inspire, educate and empower the next generation of tradespeople.
The commitment to closing the skills gap is not just about securing the future of American manufacturing. It is about preserving the legacy of innovation and leadership that has defined our industry.
The work is just the beginning, and we need your support, because supporting the trades does not just strengthen our workforce. It strengthens America.
A New Leadership Model
As fireworks light the July sky and families take to the road, we celebrate more than freedom. We honor a legacy of exploration and ingenuity. The leaders who came before us carved paths, built roads, protected natural lands and dreamt of a nation where the open road could lead anywhere. Their spirits are stitched into every mile we travel.
Today’s RV leaders are visionary like Washington, empathetic like Lincoln, pragmatic like Eisenhower and resilient like Franklin Roosevelt. They drive forward, mile by mile, idea by idea. Whether you are towing a trailer through Yellowstone, assembling a fifth wheel in Elkhart or leading a team, you are part of a uniquely American leadership story.
Made in the America is only possible because of the leadership visionaries who came before us. Their legacy is still alive in the RV industry: a powerful economic engine and a living tribute to the spirit that built a nation. What comes next is now in our hands.
Kim Lisiak Fraleigh is the director of leadership development at Lippert. She serves as a leadership coach, trainer and trusted advisor to develop leaders from the front line to the executive.
