RVIA celebrated three well-known industry executives during Tuesday’s RVs Move America Week lunch.
RVIA annually recognizes individuals, companies, and organizations for outstanding contributions with awards honoring exceptional service and achievements in the areas of RV standards, education and government affairs.
RVIA President and CEO Kirby presented RVIA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service to the RV Industry award, to Forest River President and CEO Pete Liegl.
Kirby said, “Pete is an industry titan who founded Forest River in 1996 and built the company into one of the world’s most well-known, respected and successful RV manufacturers. Throughout his time at the helm of Forest River, he has been a steadfast advocate for our association and has always generously encouraged many talented people in his organization to be active on the RV Industry Association board and on many committees.”
According to RVIA, Liegl’s leadership and innovative ideas helped the RV industry grow over the past two decades. Liegl participates in many national and local service causes. Liegl was unable to attend the presentation.
RVIA Board of Directors Chair Kevin McArt presented two awards at the lunch, the Special Award and the National Scholastic Award.
The Special Award is presented to an RV industry individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the industry’s overall success. The award went to Dick Grymonprez, director of park model sales for Skyline Champion.
“Dick has been an invaluable volunteer leader for the RV Industry Association and an impactful advocate for the park model RV industry,” McArt said. “He played a crucial role in working with the RV Industry Association to have park model manufacturers rejoin the organization in 2012.”
Grymonprez served as an RVIA Board of Directors park model RV representative from 2012–2022. He served as a member of the Park Model RV, Membership and Awards committee.
The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles (MARVAC) won the National Scholastic award. The award is given to state/regional association directors or institutions who have contributed most to the advancement of technical training within the industry.
MARVAC Director Darren Ing accepted the award.
McArt said, “The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds has been an unwavering champion for the RV industry’s educational and training efforts for decades and a passionate booster more recently of the RV Technical Institute (RVTI). The organization has generously promoted the institute programs through association channels and provided exhibit spaces and customer presentations at their events, free of charge to elevate awareness.”
MARVAC helped unite the industry around RVTI, McArt said, helping improve repair event cycle times.
