Blue Compass RV is kicking off 2024 with new leadership promotions to support the next phase of the dealer chain’s growth. Among the changes, the dealer chain announced the retirement of former RV One owner Don Strollo.
Strollo and RV One was the third acquisition Blue Compass RV made, in 2018. As Blue Compass expanded to more than 100 locations, Strollo was President and CEO Jon Ferrando’s right-hand man, among the company’s five regional presidents leading growth.
Strollo retired Dec. 31 after over 30 years in the RV industry. He followed former regional presidents Jim Humble (June 2023) and Larry Hall (Aug. 31, 2023) into retirement.
Ferrando said, “Don led RV One to becoming one of the most respected RV retail operations in the country, and when he joined RV Retailer, he took on a significant role on our leadership team where he was instrumental in our growth. I would like to thank Don Strollo for his incredible partnership and dedication to Blue Compass RV.”
The departures have shuffled the company’s executive leadership team. Donny O’Banion, the first leader Blue
Compass acquired, continues to serve as regional president with Brad Leach, the final original regional president remaining. Mark Strollo and Anthony Sahli join O’Banion and Leach.
Blue Compass appointed Mark Strollo, Sahli and O’Banion to lead manufacturer partnership management, new inventory purchasing oversight and Blue Compass RV product lineup quality.
Ferrando said, “We enter 2024 with an outstanding new RV product lineup and a strong new inventory position with industry-leading low levels of aged RVs.”
Other new appointments include:
Chris Glenn
Glenn was promoted to vice president and chief operating officer. In this role, Glenn will provide leadership for service and parts, technology, systems development and used vehicle operations. Glenn will lead Blue Compass initiatives.
“Chris has been with the company for the past five years, where he has played a significant role in our success,” Ferrando said, “and has been instrumental in significantly growing our service and parts business, retail technologies and driving many initiatives such as the selection and implementation of our CRM in 2023.”
Blue Compass Chief Information Officer Mario Lozada; Chris Fuller, used RV operations and inventory systems development vice president; and Dave Wilmore, vice president, service and parts vice president, will report to Glenn.
Dave Wilmore
“We have made tremendous investments in service and parts,” Ferrando said, “with over 1,000 service bays and the most RVTI-certified techs in the industry.”
Wilmore was promoted to Blue Compass service and parts vice president. Wilmore joined the company two years ago, serving as service and parts region vice president. He achieved service and parts growth in Blue Compass stores in the Western United States. Wilmore has over 25 years of retail leadership experience including leading service and parts at AutoNation.
Kurt Hornung
Blue Compass acquired RV roadside assistance company Coach Net in 2023.
Blue Compass Vice President of Finance and Insurance Kurt Hornung is taking on an expanded role to lead Coach Net. Coach Net President David Ostlund will report to Hornung.
“The acquisition has been successful and we are looking to build upon that success serving RV customers after the sale,” Ferrando said. “Kurt will work closely with David Ostlund and the entire team to build new customer loyalty products to offer RV customers.”
Jake Kalil
Jake Kalil was promoted to Pacific region president, leading 12 stores in California, Oregon and Nevada. Kalil has been with the company for over six years in sales, sales management, general manager and market leadership in the Midwest and Southern California.
“Jake’s appointment rounds out our region leadership team that we assembled in 2023,” Ferrando said. “This team is exceptionally talented and driven with decades of RV sales and leadership experience.”
