HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA
September 14-18, 2022
Giant Center

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Industry Attendees

Seminars

PRVCA is pleased to offer two days of training specifically designed for the RV industry. From RV equipment and electricity to customer service and warranty administration, there’s a session to help dealers offer the best service to their customers.

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Monday, September 13, 2021

Lippert Components: SlimRack Slide-outs
and Level Up hydraulic Leveling

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Champions Club
6 CEU Credits | Member Cost: FREE; Non Member: $40 (Lunch included)

Level UP Hydraulic leveling:  Six point hydraulic leveling system.  One touch automatic leveling with lightweight aluminum jacks.  Technicians will gain an overview of the system including parts and components, operation and troubleshooting. Technicians will learn to identify the components, understand how they are put together and in what order, and what replacement parts can be ordered.

SlimRack slide-out:  The SlimRack slide-out system combines versatile above-floor placement with seamless flush-floor style for a high-end look with no step up.  Technicians will gain an overview of the system including parts and components, operation and troubleshooting.  Technicians will learn to identify the components, understand how they are put together and in what order, and what replacement parts can be ordered.

Lippert Components

Phoenix Fire & RV Training: Sealtech Leak Testing

10 a.m. – 12 Noon | Power Play
Cost: FREE

The key to minimizing water damage is to find and fix the problem correctly and quickly. In this seminar, you will learn how to stop guessing where rainwater is entering an RV with Sealtech technology.  Save time and eliminate come backs in addition to increasing service profits.

Sealtech logo

Dexter Axle: Servicing RV Axles, Spring Suspensions
and Electric Braking Systems

10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Press Room/Hallway
Credits: 4 CEU; Cost: Members: FREE; Non members: $30 (lunch included)

Learn about commonly used RV axles and suspensions, including a presentation of theory and hands-on practical training with spring axles and electric drum brakes.  The instructor will include technician safety; component identification; wheel bearing and electric drum brake service; spring suspension operation, introduction to torsion axles, proper trailer loading, alignment troubleshooting, and more.

Dexter Axle

Warranty Administration

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Green Room
Credits: 6 CEU; Cost: Members: FREE; Non members: $40 (lunch included)

Presented by: Greg Dewalt, PRVCA Education Director

Learn about the duties and role of a Warranty Administrator and how you can help your dealership run smoothly and effectively.

You will learn how to create a streamlined process, build best practices for warranty administration, build transparent warranty reporting, maximize your warranty processing, and much more.

Greg Dewalt

Sealing Solutions that Move You

1 – 2 p.m. | Power Play
Cost: FREE

Presented by: Matt “RV” Misener, Sales Manager, Steele Rubber Products

Steele Rubber Products provides real-time, customized sealing solutions for just about every need. Making the industry’s highest quality weatherstripping for more than 50 years. Steele Rubber Products treats its customers’ projects as if they were their own – no matter how big or small. Steele Rubber Products wants to know how it can help you and your business.

Steele Rubber Products

Social Media Marketing in a New Era of Buyers

3 – 4 p.m. | Power Play
Cost: FREE

Presented by: Alyssa Cox, Divisional Marketing Director,
Forest River (Rockwood, Flagstaff, Columbus, Puma & Palomino)

With a shift of buyer demographics during the pandemic, social media marketing became more relevant than ever before. You will learn the importance of social media while the country was shut down and how dealers are selling, showcasing product, and utilizing all the new platforms instead of just marketing through their website and in person door swings at the dealership level. This seminar will discuss the importance and relevance of investing in someone to maintain your Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and even TikTok profiles with the shifting demographics that we are seeing in the RV industry.

Alyssa Cox - Forest River

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

RV Electricity for Technicians and Campgrounds

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Champions Club
Credits: 6 CEU; Cost: Members: FREE; Non members: $40 (lunch included)

Presented by: Mike Sokol, RV Electricity

This session is tailored to both RV technicians and campgrounds and will provide advanced troubleshooting techniques for Lithium vs FLA and AGM batteries, selecting inverter and generator power including solar panels and charge controllers. It will also focus on campground pedestal testing and maintenance including load balancing of campgrounds, hot-skin voltage causes, testing and repair.

Mike Sokol

Cummins: RV Engines & Generators

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Power Play
Cost: Members: FREE; Non members: $30 (lunch included)

Come see what is new with Cummins and learn proper maintenance and operation of generators to share with your customers. In this seminar, Cummins experts will share commonly used tools and systems to enable technicians to diagnose generators and engines. Live demonstration of new products will also be available.

Chris Crowel has 33 years of experience at Cummins in various service and support roles.  For the last 8 years, his focus has been on engines used in motorhomes and emergency vehicles.

Bryan has 25 years at Cummins in the RV industry working with OEMs and generators.

Cummins logo

Dexter Axle: Servicing RV Axles, Spring Suspensions
and Electric Braking Systems

10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Press Room/Skate Hallway
Credits: 4 CEU; Cost: Members: FREE; Non members: $30 (lunch included)

Learn about commonly used RV axles and suspensions including a presentation of theory and hands-on practical training with spring axles and electric drum brakes. Topics covered include technician safety; component identification; wheel bearing and electric drum brake service; spring suspension operation, introduction to torsion axles, proper trailer loading, alignment troubleshooting, and more.

Dexter Axle

How to Improve the Customer Service Experience

10 a.m. – 12 Noon | Green Room
Credits: 2 CEU; Cost: Members: FREE; Non members: $20 

Presented by: Greg Dewalt, PRVCA Education Director

This seminar will define the customer service experience and why you should train on the desired experience. 

This session will help you identify the events which impact the customer experience, and establish policy and procedures to improve the customer experience.

You will also learn how to train, evaluate, adjust and repeat the training cycle.

Greg Dewalt

REESE Heavy Duty Towing Products

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Green Room
Credits: 2 CEU; Cost: FREE

Presented by: Tom Romero, Horizon Global

Review the installation and set-up of the updated REESE Sidewinder short bed truck 5th wheel trailer towing solution, REESE Goose Box, REESE Pro Weight Distribution & Sway Control and REESE M5 Fifth Wheel hitches. Romero will also review the updated under bed and above bed fifth wheel rail and bracket kits.

REESE logo

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Chris DoughertyTechnical Director, RV Enthusiast magazine

Think about your favorite teacher in high school–that’s Chris. He’s friendly, even tempered, and very, very knowledgeable. A Recreational Vehicle Dealer Association (RVDA) and RVIA certified RV technician, Chris was a student of, and mentored by, his friend Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor. He wrote for a number of RV sources before spending the past few years as the Technical Editor for Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines. A lifelong RVer, including 10 years as a full-timer, Chris has owned or worked on every type of RV from pop-up to bus conversion. Chris and his wife, Karen, currently travel with a fifth wheel or truck camper.

Fantasy RV Tours

FANTASY RV TOURS is among the world’s most distinctive RV tour companies, providing sought-after RV vacations to exceptional destinations. With more than 20 years in the RV industry, Fantasy is one of the global leaders in RV caravan travel.  The company joined with CREATIVE WORLD TRAVEL in 2005, which has shown RVers new ways to vacation since 1970.

Freedom in a CanShari Galiardi and David Hutchison

As engaging professional speakers and life-long educators, David Hutchison and Shari Galiardi bring stories from their mid-life adventure to large industry travel shows, intimate college campuses, open "tiny houses" in REI parking lots, and a growing online audience. Travelling with their vintage camper for more than nine years and 150K miles to 49 states, 8 Canadian provinces, more than 100 National Parks & Monuments, and countless other public lands, they have pursued what it means to live the good life and sustain it. As presenters, they “are consummate story-tellers, skillfully weaving practical know-how, sustainability tips, stories and images… guaranteed to change the way you think about your everyday way of being in the world," B. Beaulieu. The couple writes about all things camping and off-grid living for The Dyrt’s online magazine, Renogy Solar, and Northwest RVing. 

Gardens RV Village

James “Tim” T. Wilson is the principal broker for Gardens RV Village, an RV retirement community located in Crossville, Tennessee.

For RV enthusiasts who live in The Gardens motorcoach retirement community, traveling and exploring this incredibly beautiful, diverse and bountiful country is a prominent focus in lives. There’s also a lot of fun to be had at home in their Tennessee haven. Gardens homeowners find their days surprisingly full as they cram in everything from pot luck dinners, games and bridge tournaments to RV campouts.

Life in The Gardens has been compared to when you’re in grade school and you finally get out for summer recess: It’s more than just a retirement community on top of a mountain. It’s the closest-knit group of the most caring and loving people you’d ever want to meet.

Greg DewaltPRVCA Education Director

Greg Dewalt is education director at the Pennsylvania RV and Camping Association, where he leads the education program for the association's members. He operated his own consulting and training business for 20 years, assisting RV dealers with training programs, customer care and increased profitability. 

As a high school student, Dewalt performed pre-delivery inspections (PDI) and worked on trailer hitches at his family’s RV dealership. After eight years of service in the U.S. Army, he returned to the family dealership. Overall, he has more than 37 years of experience working in the RV industry on both the dealer and manufacturer side of the business.

Dewalt earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy and continued his education in sales, management, parts, service and as a Master Certified RV Technician.

Up Close RV

When Colonel Michael Lockwood was serving in the military he lived in an RV and often found it difficult to find nearby, long-term campground space. As he commuted more than an hour to work, he saw abundant space in homeowners' driveways and thought it would be great to be able to rent space to park his RV. After a more than 40 years in the Army, Lockwood retired and decided to help fill the need for more RV space by starting Up Close RV. MIchael and his team are experienced RVers who know all about the great experiences and the obstacles RVers can face. They can help new RVers prepare for life on the road.

Randy SobelRV Electricity

Mike Sokol has been a live-sound, recording, and design engineer for over 38 years as well as a musician for 50 years who has run sound for thousands of Worship, Music, and Political events. In addition to teaching audio production at all levels, he’s been a contributing editor for magazines such as Church Productions, EQ, Electronic Musician, and Mix, as well as a technical consultant to Apple Computer and Microsoft. During the past ten years he’s presented over 600 seminars and Hands-On Workshops across North America at Churches, recording schools, universities, and professional audio organizations such as the Audio Engineering Society, the Society of Broadcast Engineers and NARAS (Grammy Awards Group).

Randy SobelPresident, Sobel University

Randy Sobel is president of Sobel University, which has developed RV sales and management training that currently reaches 500 Dealerships in the U.S and Canada. In more than 28 years, Sobel has presented numerous times at the RVDA, RVIA, 20 Groups, State and Provence Associations meetings as well as most Factory Dealer meetings. His training material has changed drastically over the years to stay current and relevant. Sobel still trains in two RV Dealerships most weeks as well as holding University courses in Tacoma and Atlanta.

RV Safety and Education Foundation

Not often does an entity come along that positively impacts all segments of a given industry equally. The RV Safety & Education Foundation, RVSEF, does that within the RV Industry. Thanks to the RVSEF, headquartered in Merritt Island, FL, today’s coaches are much safer.

The brainchild of John Anderson, A ‘Weigh We Go now RVSEF, first appeared in 1993 when John discovered that many RVs leaving the factory were decidedly overweight; many even before the owner loaded it. With product and personal safety at risk, John pushed on and began weighing RVs of all types in order to record and analyze the extent of the issue. Weighing is still one of the main tenets of RVSEF activities to this day and it still gathers data at many RV shows, conventions and rallies across the country. 

Today, RVSEF works closely with the RV Industry Association (RVIA) and the RV Dealer’s Association (RVDA) in coordinating safety programs. Not to be construed as a consumer advocate, RVSEF is decidedly and purposely, a “safety advocate” and a champion for all involved in the RV lifestyle. Its efforts and dedication have improved the products created by RV builders as more manufacturers became aware of weight limitations and most now design their coaches with weight distribution and cargo carrying capacities in mind. 

Matt 'RV' Misener Sales Manager, Steele Rubber Products

With an extensive background in sales and customer service, 'RV Matt' has cultivated a reputation of finding solutions for your sealing needs. Despite his title, he enjoys helping in the design and innovation of new products. A father of four daughters, he enjoys family time, outdoor sports and helping his community.

Steven RayePhoenix Fire and RV Training

Steven Raye has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 40 years and has worked his way thru the ranks to Chief Officer and trustee of his fire company.  Presently, he is on the board of directors for The Sussex County NJ Fire Training Academy. 

In 1973, Raye took over the management of the service department for the RV dealership his father had started in 1960.  Through his years at the dealership, he served on the Board of Directors and was a Trustee for the education fund for North Hampton Community College Bethlehem, PA and Board of Advisors RV training North Hampton Community College, and the National Recreational Vehicle Training Institute at Northampton Community College, for the Pennsylvania Recreation Vehicle and Campground Association (PRVCA)

He owns and operates Regins RV Service, an on your site service company, and Phoenix Fire and RV Training. He maintains his Master RV Service certification through continuous training and education, just as he has done since the first issuance in 1998 and is a member of the Society of Certified RV Professionals. 

The Flipping NomadCortni Armstrong

In her mid twenties, Cortni Armstrong was desperately trying to save her Dad's businesses after he suffered a stroke. Meanwhile, her lease was coming up for renewal and she found out that all of her roommates had made plans that didn't involve her. With no salary to back her up, a family friend helped Cortni move into an RV.  At first she was embarrassed and felt like it was her rock bottom.

A year later, Cortni had embraced the lifestyle and grew to love living tiny. The only problem was she didn't love the interiors offered in stock RVs.  Cortni took matters into her own hands and renovated a basic RV into her tiny dream home on wheels.  That experience made her think that maybe other people don't like the stock interiors either, and that there might be an opportunity there.  Thus, The Flipping Nomad was born.

Tobin Agency

The Tobin Agency has specialized in Recreational Vehicle Insurance since 1975. They are a family owned agency with strong ties to the RV lifestyle.

When you call the Tobin Agency for a quote or to service your existing policy you will speak to a "live" licensed insurance producer with an understanding of RV Insurance. Call Tobin Agency to experience the "Tobin Touch"!

Tom RomeroNational Accounts and Training Manager for REESE (Horizon Global)

Tom Romero has 40 years of experience in the RV, marine and automotive aftermarkets. He joined REESE (Horizon Global) in 2001 and has been with the company for 20 years, providing sales and technical training on REESE towing products.

His passion is to provide RV towing education to everyone from the dealers to the consumers so they can enjoy the best RVing experience.