Alliance RV conducted an owner-empowerment event at the National RV Training Academy’s (NRVTA) Big Red Schoolhouse in Athens, Texas, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4.
Forty-six Alliance RV owners joined NRVTA’s weeklong RV Fundamentals class to learn more about their RVs and how to perform basic maintenance.
“This was our inaugural owner-empowerment rally,” said Jim Beletti, Alliance RV owner experience liaison. “During the week, Alliance RV owners enjoyed an opportunity to get to know each other and to learn important skills which will make their RV experiences even better. With training they received from NRVTA, our owners became more comfortable about using their Alliance fifth wheels, travel trailers and toy haulers. Now they know what to do when they encounter a problem and having that knowledge will work to reduce any anxiety they may feel if something breaks.”
Owners took part in fun social events in the evenings, Beletti said. Social activities included potluck gatherings, an Alliance RV sponsored dinner and Halloween contests.
“The RV Fundamentals class was a deeper dive into the basic components of an RV,” said Rob Boyer, Alliance RV’s community outreach and education manager. “The training gave our owners working knowledge of every major system onboard their coach, including electrical, plumbing, propane, refrigerators and other appliances, air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces and RV exteriors.”
At the week’s end, owners were tested to ensure knowledge retention. Some took a separate test to become registered RV technicians.
Boyer said the training was not only practical for Alliance owners, but NRTVA’s accreditation by the Texas Workforce Commission added professionalism to the college-level course.
“Our owners had to make a sizable investment to drive their RVs to Texas, pay for the rally and pay tuition to take the RV Fundamentals course,” he explained. “We were impressed by the 100% completion rate for students and in knowing that 17 of our owners took an important step by becoming registered technicians. That allows them to take more advanced training courses, if they desire, or to get jobs working in the RV industry. The ability to quickly and accurately assist our owners is paramount to a positive customer experience interaction.”
Alliance RV plans to host another RV Fundamentals course next year from Nov. 6-10 in Athens, Georgia.
“Even the people who sometimes struggled to complete one or two classroom sessions or hands-on labs left supportive reviews of the training on social media sites,” Beletti said. “They are commenting how much they appreciate having additional confidence when using their RVs. Because that was the goal Alliance RV set when establishing our owner-empowerment program, I’d say the RV Fundamentals class accomplished its mission.”
Tony Flammia, NRVTA’s director of sales and marketing, said the academy’s staff welcomed the opportunity to work even more closely with Alliance RV and its owners.
“When RVers know how to use their units and, more importantly, how to troubleshoot problems whenever something goes wrong, the confidence they have ensures they get far more enjoyment out of their RVs,” Flammia said. “Providing training exclusively for their owners is an effective way for Alliance RV to build lifelong relationships with their customers. It also shows the company is interested in doing more than just making a sale, but ensuring that vacation plans won’t be ruined because of a problem that can easily be fixed by RV owners themselves.”
For more information about NRVTA’s training programs, click here.
