In a recent Monday morning, at the start of another weeklong Level 1 certification class at the RV Technical Institute (RVTI), the staff and trainers looked out into a sea of unusual faces. Twenty-three women, roughly 23 more than usual in the male-dominated field of RV technicians, looked back.
The women were selected for the first-of-its-kind all-female program. Thanks to industry partners, the program was offered free of charge to class members.
The women ranged in ages from early 20’s to early 60’s and came from both inside and outside of the industry. Several had some technical experience, but others were new to RVs and to mechanics. Over the ensuing five days, they would learn about propane, electrical and water systems, appliances, generators, chassis and body work.
“I had worked on campers, troubleshooting appliances, control boards, and propane issues, but I wanted a certification to prove that I knew what I was doing,” said Letitia Weidner, student and the operations manager at Camping World in Hamburg, Penn. “Especially for the older gentlemen who come into the store and want to speak only to certified technicians.”
While Weidner’s background in chassis and generators helped her during the RV Technical Institute training, she like many others – including men from previous classes – struggled with the electrical systems.
“I bought a camper in 2019 when I visited my brother in Alaska,” said Brie Miller, 42, of St. Louis. “But I was afraid of the propane system, so I only slept in it over those two months.”
Miller, who overcame her fear of propane, was so excited that she now thinks she will specialize in electrical and solar if she goes for her Level 3 certification. Like many women who passed the initial course, she’s looking forward to acquiring a Level 2 certification.
“I had thought about going into the trades, but math never clicked for me, and I thought electrical was a foreign language,” said Miller. “Now I understand what the words mean and how things work. It’s exciting that now things click!”
Lisa Chaney, 50, who has been in the RV industry for over 30 years and is currently in Forest River’s Park model division in Elkhart, felt equally thankful to have been picked for the program.
“The staff was excellent – they were quick to help you with a question or problem,” she said. “Bill Stewart made it fun and was great about putting things into terms that everyone could understand. They were a total team and were truly kind, friendly, and approachable.”
