In Tow with RV PRO

Ep. 69 - RVDA's Phil Ingrassia Deals it Straight

The RV industry is, at its heart, about helping people have fun. For the vast majority of RV buyers, a dealership is their first entry into the lifestyle. Sometimes, relationships are formed that last years, if not generations. Phil Ingrassia is president of the RV Dealers Association and represents those dealers, whether it’s a husband-and-wife operation on a 2-acre lot or a dealer with 300 units onsite. Who better to talk to about what’s on dealers’ minds at the moment than the person that works with them every day?

Ep. 68 – Jon Mulder of Volta Power Systems: The Future is Electric

EV technology continues to evolve, and Volta Power Systems is among the companies pushing for its increased adoption into the RV world. Advancements are being made every day and Jon Mulder, vice president of sales for Volta, is bullish on EVs’ future and the technology’s ability to deliver the power that RVers want in an efficient, safe and effective manner. And thankfully, he’s got a talent for explaining this complex subject so even a podcast host can understand it!

Ep. 67 – Toby O’Rourke and the Business of Happy Campers

The RV and camping industries have always been married at the hip. Not everyone wants to go off-grid, and when you decide to camp at a KOA instead of, say, a private campground, you can expect a certain level of comfort and service that Kampgrounds of America has refined over the past six decades. President and CEO Toby O’Rourke guides this venerable company and knows that outdoor enthusiasts have choices in where they stay. And the company has so much more to offer these days than just a firepit and a spot to put an RV or a tent.

Ep 66 - Alexis and NeVelle Skaggs Keep Their Dealership All in the Family

Ep. 66 – Alexis and NeVelle Skaggs Keep Their Dealership in the Family NeVelle Skaggs’ exposure to RVs dates back to camping with his family when he was a kid, and then in high school working at a dealership, where he cleaned, detailed and eventually did PDIs. In 1983, he launched Skaggs RV Outlet in his home state of Kentucky, and then a few years later his wife gave birth to the person that sits in the general manager’s chair today – their daughter, Alexis. It was an indirect route to finding her career, but she was quickly hooked. She relishes the ability she and her staff have as a key role in their customers’ happiness. Listening to her pop, you won’t wonder where that attitude comes from. Like father, like daughter.

Ep. 65 – Jesse Stopnitzky: Helping the Dealers Make Deals

The past few years have been record breaking for Performance Brokerage Services, a family-owned company specializing in brokering the buying and selling of dealerships of all types. Jesse Stopnitzky heads up the RV and marine division for the company, and said that the past three years was a time of unprecedented activity in terms of dealerships changing hands. That time has passed, he said, but it’s far from coming to a halt – things now are just different. In terms of the inside scoop on where M&A activity stands for the summer of ’23, you can’t get a better perspective than Jesse’s.