The RV Women’s Alliance recently announced its finalists for its prestigious annual awards program, recognizing exceptional women who have shaped the recreational vehicle industry over decades of dedicated service. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 15, during the RV Women’s Alliance Education Symposium, celebrating trailblazers who have fundamentally influenced how the RV business operates and how women advance within it.

This year holds special significance as the alliance renamed its highest honor, the Trailblazer Award for Lifetime Achievement, to recognize Susan Carpenter, the organization’s founder and president. Carpenter has spent more than 35 years supporting women in the RV sector, earning recognition for her transformative impact on the industry landscape.

Why These Awards Matter for RV Shoppers

When leadership positions across the RV industry are held by experienced professionals with deep industry knowledge, that translates directly to better products, improved customer service, and more thoughtful business practices. The women being honored have spent 20 or more years building careers that shaped everything from manufacturing standards to dealer operations to how companies treat their workforce. Understanding the people leading major RV companies and trade organizations helps buyers make informed decisions about where to shop and which brands to trust.

The award finalists represent different segments of the RV ecosystem. Amy Book, Sales Operations Manager at Airstream, began on manufacturing lines before transitioning through 14 years of service work and eventually into sales operations. Her nine-year track record managing critical sales operations demonstrates how career progression and deep cross-departmental knowledge strengthen the companies that design and sell RVs. When service technicians understand sales challenges and sales teams understand service realities, customers benefit from more realistic product design and better support networks.

Cammy Pierson, former president of Curtis Trailers, exemplifies leadership focused on people and mentorship. As president of the Oregon RV Dealers Association and chair of the RV Dealers Association, Pierson demonstrated that effective industry leadership involves supporting other dealers and their employees. Her approach of leading from behind and mentoring countless younger women has created ripple effects throughout the RV community. This type of collaborative leadership ultimately strengthens the entire dealer network that serves RV buyers.

Leadership Across the Border

rv dealership team collaboration
Photo by Vitaly Gariev

Eleonore Hamm, President of RVDA of Canada, brings over 31 years of service to the RV industry, having joined RVDA of Canada in 1995 and rising to the presidency in 2009. Her 17-year tenure as president has positioned her as the national voice for Canadian RV dealers. Hamm’s work spans federal advocacy, dealer education, market intelligence, and crisis management. For shoppers, knowing that major trade associations are led by seasoned professionals with expertise in these areas means the industry has institutional knowledge to navigate challenges, from supply chain disruptions to regulatory changes.

Hamm has received significant industry recognition, including induction into the 2021 RV/MH Hall of Fame and the 2014 RVIA National Education Service Award. These honors signal that she has earned respect across the entire North American RV landscape. When considering an RV purchase, buyers benefit from understanding that experienced leaders like Hamm are actively working on dealer education and market intelligence, which directly influences the quality of information and service available to customers.

What This Means for Your RV Purchase Decision

As RV market conditions continue to evolve, having strong leadership across manufacturing, dealership, and trade association levels becomes increasingly important. These women have spent careers building institutional knowledge about how the RV industry operates, how to train employees effectively, and how to advocate for both dealers and consumers. Their mentorship of younger professionals ensures that expertise and values continue flowing through the industry pipeline.

The RV Women’s Alliance Education Symposium itself reflects the industry’s growing recognition that professional development, networking, and knowledge-sharing drive better outcomes for everyone involved. When dealers and manufacturers invest in education and celebrate achievements across gender lines, the entire industry becomes more competitive and customer-focused. This emphasis on continuous improvement and professional excellence ultimately results in better RV products, more knowledgeable sales staff, and stronger after-sale support.

For shoppers, these awards serve as a reminder to research the leadership at RV dealerships and manufacturers before making purchasing decisions. A company led by seasoned professionals with deep industry experience and commitment to mentoring the next generation typically demonstrates stronger values around customer service, product quality, and fair business practices. Whether you’re shopping for your first RV or your fifth, understanding the people and culture behind the brands you’re considering helps ensure you make a choice aligned with your values and expectations for service.