With more than 32 years in the industry, RVIA Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Landers has announced his plans to retire at the end of March 2023.
Landers spent the past seven years leading RVIA’s Government Affairs department.
“Over the past 32 years, Jay has contributed greatly to the industry, our association, and all of us who have had the pleasure to work with him,” RVIA President and CEO Craig Kirby said. “Jay and his team have done a remarkable job in promoting and protecting the industry over the years and the industry would not be where we are today without his leadership and the hard work and dedication of his team.”
RVIA said many will remember Landers for his early days as the “Godfather of RV-Specific Franchise,” as he enacted critical legislation across the country to appropriately govern the unique relationship between RV dealers and manufacturers.
“We are a recognized and respected industry on Capitol Hill and in the state capitols because of Jay and his team’s diligent efforts in representing the industry,” Kirby said. “Under Jay’s leadership, the Government Affairs team has excelled in establishing the RV Industry Association as a leading expert on outdoor recreation policy at the federal and state level and taken our signature event, RVs Move America Week, to a new level.”
Landers significantly expanded RVIA’s Capitol Hill presence as vice president of government affairs. His impact was most evident in the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act and the growth of Advocacy Day—a fly-in event he started in 2001—from a couple dozen people to over 150 industry executives advocating each year on Capitol Hill.
“It has been a privilege and an honor to spend the majority of my career in the RV industry,” Landers said. “Our policy issues and priorities have changed over the years, but what has remained a constant is the great people. One of the things I am most proud of is that I will be leaving the Government Affairs team in better shape than I found it, with a handful of bright, engaging, aggressive government affairs professionals.”
The search for next RVIA vice president of government affairs is underway. For questions on the recruitment process, email Senior Director of HR Alice Wang at [email protected].
