The RV/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame will induct 10 new members on Aug. 19, 2024. Leading the RV Hall of Fame class are three CEOs and the longtime RVDA president.
Grand Design CEO Don Clark, Airxcel Chairman and former CEO Jeff Rutherford, Triple E RV CEO Terry Elias, RVDA President Phil Ingrassia and Wilkins RV President Brian Wilkins comprise the 2024 RV Hall of Fame class. Hall of Fame President Darryl Searer, “Please come help us to celebrate this well-deserving group of inductees on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana. I am certain that this year’s ceremony will be the epitome of what the Hall of Fame represents, and I could not be more excited to celebrate this incredible class along with their family, friends, colleagues and other members of the industries.”
The Hall of Fame conducted meetings Monday to select the Hall of Fame nominees.
“The committees take great pride in analyzing each nomination form in detail in order to ensure the integrity of the process and select the most deserving nominees,” the Hall of Fame said. “Each and every new inductee has already been notified and was thrilled to become a part of this illustrious fraternity of Hall of Famers.”
Clark began his four-decade career in the mid-1980s at Coachmen RV, then joined Keystone RV before the manufacturer was acquired by Thor Industries. Clark was named Dutchmen RV president, then struck out on his own in 2012 by founding Grand Design.
Rutherford’s RV career began in Colorado as an executive with awning supplier Carefree of Colorado. After more than 18 years with Carefree, Rutherford became chief operating officer at Airxcel. He was promoted to president in 2015 and added CEO to his title the following year. In November, he transitioned from his president and CEO role to board chairman.
Elias, the grandson of Triple E RV founder P.W. Enns, was appointed the general manager and chief operating officer in 1993. In 2010 Elias was promoted to CEO of the 58-year-old motorhome manufacturer.
Ingrassia came to RVDA as its vice president of communications in 1996 after a career as a reporter, press secretary and six years as RVIA’s communications director. He became RVDA’s president in2012, the job he holds today.
Wilkins is the third-generation owner of Wilkins RV, a New York-based RV dealership group with seven stores. He moved the dealership group’s initial store from Hornell to Bath and added six new locations in the past dozen years.
The five manufactured housing HOF nominees are Clayton Homes’ Charlie Hemphill, UMH Properties’ Sam Landy, Choice Properties’ Kamal Shouhayib, Flagship Communities’ Nathan Smith and Advantage Homes’ Todd Su.
Hall of Fame dinner registration is open. Reservations can be made by clicking here.
