The RV industry is opening its doors for one of the year’s most anticipated recognition programs. Nominations for the 2026 40 Under 40 Class are now being accepted, giving talented young professionals across the RV sector a chance to gain industry recognition and visibility.

What the 40 Under 40 Program Recognizes

This award-winning initiative celebrates 40 outstanding professionals under the age of 40 who are making meaningful contributions to the recreational vehicle industry. The program casts a wide net across multiple market segments, including dealership technicians, parts and service specialists, retail sales personnel, and administrative staff. It also extends recognition to employees working for RV manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, representative groups, and business service providers.

For anyone working in the RV industry, this nomination window represents an opportunity to have your accomplishments acknowledged by peers and industry leaders. The selection process aims to identify individuals who demonstrate exceptional talent, innovation, and commitment to advancing the RV sector.

Nomination Details and Timeline

young technician repairing rv
Photo by Blake Wisz

Submitting a nomination is straightforward and accessible through an online web form. The deadline for all nominations is Thursday, August 27, at midnight Central Time. This means you have a limited window to put forward candidates you believe deserve recognition.

One important eligibility requirement: nominees must be under 40 years old on September 1, 2026. This age cutoff ensures the program maintains its focus on emerging and young-career talent within the industry.

The nomination process allows flexibility in who can be submitted. You are permitted to nominate multiple people, including yourself if you meet the criteria. If you nominated someone last year who wasn’t selected, you can submit them again. Many candidates strengthen their application with an additional year of industry experience, making them more competitive in subsequent years.

What Happens After Nomination

rv dealership sales team
Photo by Roadpass

Once the nomination deadline passes, the selection committee will begin evaluating candidates. Notified nominators and selected honorees will receive confirmation in September, with the full Class of 2026 being announced publicly shortly after.

If you submit a nomination, know that both you and the honoree will be informed of the selection in the same notification. This transparency helps build community within the recognition program and acknowledges the role nominators play in identifying talent.

It is worth noting that past honorees cannot be renominated. If someone was already featured in a previous class, they are ineligible for future consideration. This approach ensures that each class features new rising stars rather than repeated honorees.

Selected nominees will need to complete an acceptance form to officially confirm their honoree status. The selection team maintains a backup list of candidates in case any selected nominee decides they do not wish to be publicly featured. This safeguard ensures that the final Class of 2026 consists entirely of willing, enthusiastic participants.

Why This Matters for RV Shoppers and the Industry

While this recognition program directly celebrates industry professionals, it has broader implications for the RV market. When talented young technicians, salespeople, and business leaders are recognized and encouraged to stay in the industry, it elevates service quality, product innovation, and customer experience across the board. Whether you are shopping for a new RV or seeking quality service at a dealership, knowing that the industry actively develops and celebrates emerging talent contributes to a healthier, more competitive market.

The RV industry relies on skilled professionals at every level. Technicians who maintain and repair RVs, sales staff who guide buyers through purchasing decisions, parts specialists who keep vehicles running smoothly, and manufacturers who design cutting-edge rigs all depend on knowledgeable, committed people. A recognition program like this one signals that career advancement and professional achievement are valued in the RV space.

If you work in the RV industry and know exceptional colleagues under 40, consider submitting their names. Supporting your peers elevates the entire field. And if you are a consumer shopping for RV products or services, you benefit when the industry invests in recognizing and developing its best talent. Quality service at dealerships, reliable products, and expert advice all flow from an industry that values and celebrates its young professionals.

For those involved in RV ownership, whether you need quality camping pillows, reliable RV refrigerators, or effective water storage solutions, the professionals nominated for this recognition are the backbone behind the services and products that make RV life more comfortable and enjoyable.