Company address
390 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant
Company Web site
Industry
Recreational vehicle sales and service
Number of employees
More than 50
Your education
Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Marian College
Family
Wife, Brenda; son, Alec, 9; son, Connor, 7; and daughter, Paige, 5.
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
"We executed our building plans to move the major portion of our business operations to Interstate 94 and Highway 20 west of Racine in the Town of Yorkville.
What’s new at your company?
"We now have two locations. Our original location in Burlington offering our Jayco line of towable RV products and our Winnebago line of motor homes and our new 60,000-square-foot, truly unique RV destination on I-94 and Hwy 20. In addition, we also rent Class C type motor homes, make modifications to and equip RV’s for physically handicapped individuals and have a specialty vehicle division that modifies RV shells for mobile marketing, pet clinics, dental offices, command vehicles and many other business and government applications."
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
"Since Jan 3, we have hired 18 new employees and are still hiring for sales professionals, technicians, cashiers and reception."
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
"Controlling growth and managing inventory. We want to grow slowly enough to continue to provide the high standard of customer service that our customers have experienced from us in the past."
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
"Baby boomers are finding RV travel to be the lifestyle of choice for them see all the wonderful nooks and crannies there are in this country. There are so many unique places to go, things to do, people to meet and sights to see right here in our own back yard. Boomers don’t seem to want to fight their way through airports or take any risks going overseas. They want to go wherever they want, whenever they want and do it in style with all the comforts of home right there with them and that includes being able to bring their pets."
Do you have a business mantra?
"Wherever you go, you’re always at home in an RV."
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
"We look up to all the great business people before us that came up with all the great ideas that helped get us where we are today. I have read about great customer service ideas from companies like McDonald’s, Nieman Marcus and Nordstoms. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to solid business and customer service practices. We get ideas from other good companies that have been doing things right and have successful track records. I look up to people and companies that put their employees and customers first and consistently prove at the end of the day that dealing fairly and honestly with people is the way God intended us to run our businesses and provide the highest levels of customer service."
What was the best advice you ever received?
"A great pitcher by the name of Satchel Paige was once asked if there was any advice he’d like to pass on to others, and he said, ‘Don’t ever look back, because someone or something might be gaining on you.’ He was right. What he meant was, if you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. The Japanese call the process of continuous improvement ‘Kaizen.’ It really doesn’t matter what you call it, as long as you do it."
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in your career?
"I once locked myself in the bathroom of an RV for over 2 hours."
What do you like to do in your free time?
"I like being a dad. With three young children, I keep pretty busy. I have served as a board member with the RVDA and remain very active serving on committees to improve industry relations."
