Dan Pearson started his RV industry career at Pleasureland RV as a lot/parts runner in 1975, also did various jobs in the parts and detail area. He transferred into sales and eventually became Sales Manager. In 1982 he became president and has served in that role ever since. He has taken the dealership with one location to multiple locations. Time and again, he has proven to be a strong and loyal RV industry advocate. His years of service to RVDA and his skills in industry relations have always been impressive.

Through the years, Bill Wilson unselfishly volunteered countless hours of personal time to represent KMHI and MHI, as well as the industry, on important issues and legislation that shaped the present and future of the industry. His expertise and very personal experiences in the retail business and industry was a great asset for his business, as well as the association and the industry. Bill has a passion to make this industry as great as it can.

Michael G. Sullivan has been a tireless supporter of our Manufactured Housing industry. He has served on the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association (WMA) board of directors for decades, including terms as president and vice chair. Mike has served a chair of nearly every important committee for IMA where he has vigorously promoted and defended the industry with state and local government regulators.

Mike is a very knowledgeable resource for manufactured housing and has been a speaker at many forums and conventions. Mike has devoted more than 40 years to the manufactured housing industry. He has worked in many facets of the business: property development, retail sales, community ownership and management. He has been a certified property manager for 30 years. The company he leads operates more than 100 manufactured home communities. He has also constructed and operates RV resorts. Never seeking the limelight, this modest person lends his support liberally to any program or cause to better our industry.

His efforts and leadership have created many jobs and have provided quality, affordable housing for tens of thousands of people. During all of his years of voluntary service to the industry, Mike has not asked for anything in return. He has been totally unselfish and, in fact, has been a major financial contributor to all segments of the business and has sponsored many events for the benefit of all industry participants.

Darrel and Harrel operate a manufactured housing dealership and have developed six different communities outside of Indianapolis. These communities represent 1800 sites. At a time when many communities are only 50% occupied, the Cohron communities remain at 95% occupied. Their communities represent a lifestyle that is attractive, clean, and safe for their residents. The Cohron's dealership and communities are ranked as the number one family owned Manufactured Housing business in America.

Derald Bontrager has dedicated his career to the advancement and betterment of the RV industry and has done so by leading with integrity, passion, and a desirable work ethic. He is one that many respect and admire as a mentor for his strength and determination to always do what is right, not just profitable. Not only has he led Jayco through several economic down turns to come out stronger on the other side, but has been actively involved in RVIA for many years, serving as members of various committees, the Executive Board, and Chairman of the Board.

Perhaps a more difficult task than starting a company is moving the torch away from the founding father and keeping it lit. This task was given to L. Douglas Lippert in 1977 when his father, Larry, handed him the reigns of Lippert Components. Doug's focus was to always make the manufacturing housing industry great. He kept LCI going through two recessions and grew the company from 5 million in 1977 to 100 million in 1997.

There were many suppliers, many different companies and a lot of instability. Doug combined all of the Lippert companies into one and established strong relationships with the manufacturers bringing stability to an industry that was going down the wrong path. Once combined, LCI was able to provide frames and parts through some pretty tough times, including Hurricane Andrew which caused many of LCI's facilities to provide FEMA frames for over a year.

Without Doug's guidance through tough times, LeI wouldn't have survived to become what it is today and creating thousands a jobs along the way.

Mike Cirillo has been an institution in the MHRV world in California and Nevada for years, and now after 35 years he is dedicating a huge amount of time to educate a new generation of MHRV leaders with Pacific Current Partners. Whether with park residents, vendors, or clients, Mike consistently shows incredible patience and professionalism, striving always to make the right decision and treating his stakeholders with the utmost respect. With his hands-on approach, Mike leads by example every step of the way.

In 1948 Roland Sahm, along with his wife, and two friends, founded Elixir Industries, Inc. Over the course of his career, Roland through his company touched tens of thousands of people, making their working lives and their lifestyles better. With employment and the innovations from Elixir there are very few manufactured homes or recreational vehicles today that don't benefit from products produced by Elixir Industries.

Joe Stegmayer, chairman of the board, president and CEO of Cavco Industries, Inc., began his career in 1973 with Worthington Industries supplying LP gas cylinders to RV industry. Since joining Cavco in 2000, Joe led the Cavco team to grow from $95 million in annual sales to $600 million annually and expanded the firm from three factories in two states to 19 factories in 11 states. Also during Joe's tenure as chairman, he grew the company's park model business to become the number one builder of park models nationwide. Prior to joining Cavco, Joe held numerous high level executive positions with Champion Homes and Clayton Homes, Inc. Joe's dedication and leadership has earned him the respect of his peers, as evidenced by the numerous awards he has received including the Jack E. Wells Memorial Award for outstanding service and dedication to the manufactured housing industry from the California Manufactured Housing Institute, the Chairman's Award, from the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) for service to the industry and to MHI, and the Arizona Housing Association President's Award. He also found time to volunteer for charitable work including Knights of Columbus charities for the mentally challenged, economically disadvantaged and girl and boy scouts, past president and lifetime board member of The Columbus Zoological Association, and past chairman of the National Football Hall of Fame. Joe also serves as vice chairman of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation.

David Gorin contributed substantially to promotion and growth of the RV industry over more than 25 years. He transformed the National Campground Owners Association from insolvency into a financially stable and vital organization.

He purchased its headquarters building and equipped the association to meet the needs of a membership that he helped grow into an important segment of the hospitality industry. A recognized industry expert, his views are widely sought.

He developed and owned a campground, created a national marketing network for premium RV resorts, consulted and assisted hundreds of investors and developers, and writes regular columns for industry publications.