(March 18, 2009) -- G. Bellinger Davis, Jr., the founder of Holiday on Wheels in Columbia, S.C., passed away Feb. 28. Davis established Holiday on Wheels in 1964 as a part-time venture to supplement his income as an elementary school principal. It ultimately became a full-time RV business.

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(March 17, 2009) -- One of the top apprentice awards went to Airdrie resident Casey Thompson for his work as a recreation vehicle service technician, employed by the Abraxus Construction Group.

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(March 16, 2009) -- Effective June 1, Martin Daum will become head of Daimler Trucks North America to replace Chris Patterson. Daum is currently head of Operations at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Woerth, Germany and has been with the Daimler Group for more than 20 years.

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(March 11, 2009) -- The group's new director of accreditation and job mart is Kelli Harms, APR, a public relations specialist with Winnebago Industries. She is a member of Minnesota PRSA's accreditation committee. Harms earned her master's and bachelor's degrees in communications/public relations from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

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(March 6, 2009) -- Northeast Marketing Associates was chosen from a tightly contested pack of talented representative groups by scoring high marks across all categories of criteria, said Stephanie Schamne, with EternaBond's sales and marketing department. "Northeast Marketing Associates provides optimum sales representation for manufacturers of commercial and residential roofing products and relating building materials," she said.

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(Feb. 26, 2009) -- Robert Olson, chairman, CEO and president of Winnebago Industries, voluntarily agrees to a 20 percent pay cut as other senior managers give up 10 percent. All other salaried employees were rquired to accept a 3 percent reduction in base salaries.

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(Feb. 26, 2009) -- The Above and Beyond Award is presented to those employers who demonstrate exceptional support for national defense by adopting policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve. Damon was chosen from 1,000 to 1,500 employers to receive this award.

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(Feb. 25, 2009) -- A customer satisfaction score of 94.26 percent – one of the highest ever recorded – earned Independence RV the Mahlon Miller Service Excellence award for the best customer service in the nation from Newmar, a manufacturer of Class A luxury motorhomes and fifth wheels.

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(Feb. 23, 2009) -- Scott Swinehart will assume the position of director of purchasing and operations for the RV and marine aftermarket distributor.

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(Feb. 23, 2009) -- Navistar International Corporation has elected long-time Navistar and Ford executive David Tarrant to be chief executive officer for Workhorse Custom Chassis in addition to his present duties as vice-president and general manager for light duty vehicles and joint ventures for Navistar. Workhorse is a Navistar subsidiary that manufactures chassis for walk-in trucks and motorhomes.

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(Feb. 18, 2009) -- The 72-year-old billionaire rarely talks to the media, preferring instead to maintain a low profile despite the enormous success he has achieved. Adams, a devout Christian, conducts business in the same way he does philanthropy: under the radar, blowing as few trumpets as possible.

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(Feb. 17, 2009) -- Steve Chrisman is among the hundreds of laid off RV workers taking advantage of retraining grants and preparing for new careers outside of the RV industry. His story caught the attention of the White House, which called him before President Barack Obama came to Elkhart, and of National Public Radio, which is planning to include him in a story on community colleges and worker retraining program.

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(Feb. 19, 2009) -- Brian Donat, a 13-year veteran of the RV industry, was named director of marketing strategies, new product development and product enhancement for Lippert Components. Donat is the former product development, sales, and marketing director for K-Z RV.

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(Feb. 10, 2009) -- Donna and John Crean, the couple who made a name for themselves as owners of a recreational-vehicle company and as generous philanthropists, will be honored today with a star on the Anaheim/Orange County Walk of Stars.

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(Feb. 10, 2009) -- As other companies announce layoffs in a struggle to survive, Atlanta-based Force Marketing continues its expansion. Today it announced the hiring of Mark Holcomb to lead the newly developed RV division of Force Marketing. Holcomb’s experience includes over three decades in the automotive and RV industries.

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(Feb. 4, 2009) -- RVIA’s Human Resources Director Susan Brennan has retired from RVIA after nearly eight years of service to the organization. Human Resources Coordinator Alice Wang, who worked alongside Brennan for the length of her tenure at RVIA, has been promoted as RVIA’s manager of human resources.

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(Feb. 3, 2009) -- This year's class includes RV manufacturer Pete Liegl, with Forest River; Camping World's David Garvin; RV supplier Hal Fowler with DTI RV Appliance Parts; RV association executive Susan Bray, with Good Sam Club; and deceased RV dealer Richard Baidas, with General RV Center.

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(Jan. 27, 2009) -- Priority One Financial Services announces that Jeff Wyatt has been named controller of the company owned by Forest River. Wyatt will be responsible for instituting and managing policies to ensure successful financial operations of the company.

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(Jan. 26, 2009) -- RV Industry News has learned that Dana Nelson has left his job as editor of RV Trade Digest. Associate Editor Jackie Kimmel is now in charge of editorial content for the magazine and website.

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(Jan. 22, 2009) -- Doug Shearer, who has served on TACO’s board of directors for the past five years, was elected to a two-year term earlier this month during TACO’s winter meeting. He said his priorities for 2009 and 2010 will include supporting the association’s marketing and advertising programs, which are designed to entice camping and RVing enthusiasts to TACO-affiliated parks.

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(Jan. 21, 2009) -- Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of Hudson, 510 Cherry Street in Hudson, Colo. Memorial contributions can be made in the memory of the Enanders to the Enander Family Foundation, c/o Dolan & Associates, P.C., 193 S. 27th Ave., Suite 200, Brighton, CO 80601.

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(Jan. 21, 2009) -- As part of a planned management transition, Lyle N. Larkin, 63, vice president and treasurer of Fleetwood Enterprises, retired as of Jan. 16, following a career of nearly 30 years with the company. Andrew M. Griffiths, the company's senior vice president and chief financial officer, will assume the additional title of treasurer.

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(Jan. 19, 2009) -- Adams County Coroner Jim Hibbard said Harold Enander, 69, and his wife Elva Sue Enander, 61, died as a result of the blunt force trauma inflicted by the gun shots. The deaths are still under investigation. “It is an obvious homicide,” said Sgt. Candi Baker of the Adam’s County Sheriff’s Office.

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(Jan. 16, 2009) -- Authorities did not release the identities of the victims, but friends of the couple identified them as Harold "Hap" Enander, 69, and Sue Enander, 61. "Foul play is suspected. It's being handled as a double homicide," said Adams County sheriff's spokeswoman Candi Baker.

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(Jan. 15, 2009) -- Robert T. “Bob” Davis Sr. of Lake Wales died Jan. 10 at his home. He was 78. He was a retired owner and operator of RV parks and campgrounds and was an RV dealer.

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(Jan. 13, 2009) -- TriMas Corporation today announced that David M. Wathen, 56, has been appointed president and chief executive officer, succeeding Grant H. Beard, who has resigned from these positions and from the TriMas Board of Directors. Wathen will also join the board.

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(Jan. 19, 2008) -- Ty Kelly, with Beaver Coach Sales in Bend, Ore., was named the No. 1 retail salesperson in the nation last year for Beaver Motorcoach.

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(Jan. 13, 2009) -- After nearly 9 years as the director of marketing for Lazydays RV Superstore, Stewart Schaffer announced he will leave the RV dealership at the end of the month for a similar position in the healthcare industry.

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(Jan. 13, 2009) -- To his credit, Frank Bailor III racked up more than $10 million in RV and boat sales last year at a time when the industry was pressured by consumers cutting back on discretionary spending, eroding credit, rising fuel prices and unemployment concerns.

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(Jan. 12, 2009) -- Monaco Coach Corporation today offered its congratulations to Frank V. Bailor III on becoming the No. 1 Monaco motorized brand salesmen for 2008. Bailor is an employee of Stoltzfus RV & Marie, located in West Chester, Penn.

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(Jan. 12, 2009) -- Mark Hashemi will be responsible for global sales for the EFOY and SFC fuel cell products and solutions in the SFC business units leisure (motor homes, boats, cabins), industry (professional off-grid applications) and mobility (light electric vehicles).

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(Jan. 9, 2009) -- Patrick Industries announced today that Todd M. Cleveland, president and chief operating officer, will succeed Paul E. Hassler as chief executive officer effective Feb. 1 in accordance with the company's executive succession plan.

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(Jan. 9, 2009) -- Effective immediately, Chuck Wilkinson will move from his current position as vice president of motorhome operations to become the vice president of Fleetwood’s travel trailer division. Fleetwood also appointed John Draheim as vice president of Fleetwood’s motorhome division.

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(Jan. 5, 2009) -- David Webster, a retired director and longtime executive at a subsidiary of Drew Industries, will receive $750,000 annually in 2009 and 2010, plus $50,000 in insurance coverage and other benefits, including an automobile.

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(Jan. 5, 2009) -- Spartan spokesman Jeff Lambert said Friday that personnel changes related to Richard Schalter's resignation would be announced Monday, but he would not elaborate.

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(Jan. 2, 2009) -- "On Dec. 29, 2008, Richard J. Schalter resigned as executive vice president of Spartan Motors, Inc., and as president of its Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. subsidiary," the company announced in an SEC filing.

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(Dec. 30, 2008) -- TengoInternet today announced the hiring of Frank Drew and James Green as director of business development and director of marketing.

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(Dec. 22, 2008) -- Drew Industries Incorporated today announced that Fred Zinn, Drew's president, will succeed to the office of chief executive officer in accordance with the company's management succession plan. Leigh J. Abrams, Drew's CEO since 1979, was appointed chairman of the doard of directors, while Edward W. ("Rusty") Rose, III, Drew's chairman since 1984, was appointed lead director. All appointments are effective Jan. 1.

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(Dec. 22, 2008) -- Jason D. Lippert, the chairman, president and chief executive of Lippert, will replace David L. Webster as the head of Kinro. Webster is retiring at the end of the year, Drew said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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(Dec. 3, 2008) -- In "The Infinite Power of Teams," author Michael Miller explains how team performance improved as the teamwork process was simplified. The book’s first section is an overview of the process, with 10 real-life stories showing its results. The second section explains how participants can perform better as a team. And the concluding section focuses on team leadership.

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(Nov. 18, 2008) -- Spartan Motors Inc. said Monday that it named former GE Aviation executive Thomas Kivell as vice president and general counsel. Kivell will be responsible for Spartan's legal and compliance activities, including managing the legal process of contracting with customers, the U.S. military and other U.S. and international government agencies, directing the company's legal compliance and supporting the Spartan's strategic initiatives.

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(Nov. 17, 2008) -- BR Wholesale has announced that Trey Miller will take over as president of the wholesale RV and marine distributor. Miller brings a vast amount of experience to the company, previously as the vice president of sales and marketing for DTI and the vice president of marketing services for StagParkway. He has served on various advisory boards, involved with several association committees, including the RV Aftermarket Associationand RV Industry Association. Miller has conducted numerous training seminars throughout the country, including educational sessions for RV Dealers Association.

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(Nov. 12, 2008) -- Craig Mellor was promoted to senior vice president of sales. John Spaulding becomes senior vice president of merchandising. Ken Russell joins StagParkway as its chief information officer.

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(Nov. 5, 2008) -- Harold Young was the owner and founder of Young's Mobile Homes & Travel Center in Fremont. He started the mobile home business in 1947 and built his first community, Colonial Acres, in 1953. Harold was active in the business up to his death. Harold was an avid Ross Sports fan and Ross Boosters supporter. He was a member of the Ohio Manufactured Housing Association, the RV Dealers Association and the Great Lakes Dealer Association.

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(Nov. 3, 2008) -- Frank Bailor, an employee of Stoltzfus RV’s & Marine, achieved a milestone in RV sales for Stoltzfus’s corporate year, attaining $10 million in gross sales. He is also the No. 1 Monaco salesperson in the United States.

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(Oct. 29, 2008) -- Winnebago Industries gave new Chairman and Chief Executive Bob Olson, who took the top jobs in May, a pay package worth $731,370 in its 2008 fiscal year, according to a regulatory statement filed Wednesday. The compensation for Olson, 57, included a salary of $396,369 and $23,404 in non-equity incentive plan compensation, which is rewarded for the company's performance, Winnebago said in a proxy filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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(Oct. 28, 2008) -- Mike McKay, the vice president of sales and marketing for wholesale distributor StagParkway, will form a new company called Spot-On Marketing. Dan Eckenroad, former aftermarket and export sales leader for Kwikee/PowerGear, will start DE Sales and Marketing. Spot-On Marketing's primary focus will be serving clients on the east coast. DE Sales and Marketing will provide similar services to clients located on the west coast. When possible, or necessary, both McKay and Eceknroad will collaborate to serve common clients.

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(Oct. 14, 2008) -- Fan-Tastic Vent Corporation announced that Karin Florida has become a member of the firm's Elkhart sales team.

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(Oct. 3, 2008) -- Clint Woods, a legislative analyst for the RV Industry Association, was one of three George Mason University students to receive the Bryce Harlow Foundation scholarships for 2008-09.

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(Sept. 30, 2008) -- Fleetwood’s Top Dealer awards are given to dealers who have sold the most units by brand in a 12-month period. This year, Fleetwood paid special tribute to those dealerships that were number one in the nation by brand, as well as number one overall for motor homes and travel trailers. Fleetwood also recognized its “most improved” motor home and travel trailer dealers.

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