Convention

September 10-13, 2026

THE CONVENTION IS A THREE DAY CONFERENCE
This conference brings all segments of the RV Industry together. This is the one time of the year that all FRVTA members from around the state and country come together for education, fellowship and recognition. Presented in a casual and comfortable atmosphere, this is the one FRVTA event that you can’t afford to miss!

WE WELCOME ALL OUR MEMBERS
As a true Trade Association, all our members are represented at this conference; Campground Owners and Operators, RV Dealers, Supplier Companies, Finance and Insurance Firms, Service Companies and RV Manufacturers. The annual FRVTA meeting, installation of incoming officers and many fun and educational events take place.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Online registration is now open! You will be able to submit your registration and make payment online.

Click here for Convention Registration

Many regions provide their member companies reimbursement for travel and registration cost, check with your region treasurer for policy.

HOTEL INFORMATION
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa
5001 Coconut Road
Bonita Springs, FL 34134

The hotel has offered a group rate of $244.19 (includes resort fee and taxes)
Click here to make your Hotel Reservations

PARKING
The hotel has offered us a discounted self-parking rate of $10

DRESS CODE
Attire is resort casual for the majority of the covention

Friday – The Queen’s Court Awards Dinner is semi-formal

Saturday – RV Wonderland After Dark Glow Party is your chance to get creative and bring out your festive attire. Let’s have some fun!!

We understand that you are taking time from your jobs and businesses; therefroe, we want you to enjoy the meeting and functions comfortably.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, September 10, 2026

10:00am – FRVTA Board of Directors Meeting – Blue Heron Meeting Room
12:00pm – 5:00pm – Registration Open – Great Egret C
6:00pm – 8:00pm – We Are All Mad Here Welcome Reception – Calusa A-D

Friday, September 11, 2026

7:30am – 12:00pm – Registration Open – Great Egret C
7:30am – 8:30am – Breakfast & Networking – Calusa Pre-Function
8:30am – General Session – Calusa E-H
8:45am – Key Note Speaker

LEADING YOURSELF AND YOUR RV BUSINESS THROUGH CHALLENGES AND CHANGES TO BUILD THE BUSINESS YOU WANT Commander Mary C. Kelly | PhD, CSP, CPAE, US Navy (Ret.) -Hall of Fame speaker, economist, and retired Navy Commander Dr. Mary Kelly focuses on helping RV business leaders navigate today’s challenges, including economic uncertainty, changing customer expectations, workforce shortages, artificial intelligence, shifting buying habits, and increased competition. Dr. Kelly introduces the Seven Stages of Every Crisis, Challenge, or Change, helping participants understand where their business is in the process and how to lead effectively through each stage. She also teaches her P.I.V.O.T.™ Framework, designed to help leaders make better decisions, communicate effectively, maintain employee engagement, and identify opportunities during periods of disruption. The keynote provides RV dealers, campgrounds, manufacturers, suppliers, and service businesses with practical leadership tools and strategies to successfully navigate change, strengthen their teams, improve profitability, and build a business capable of thriving in any economy. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Dr. Kelly holds master’s degrees in history and economics and earned her PhD in economics. During her 21-year Navy career, she led organizations ranging from small specialized teams to large, complex operations, serving as a military intelligence officer, logistics officer, chief of police, and human resources director. Today, as CEO of Productive Leaders, she works with Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, financial institutions, and government agencies to improve productivity, profitability, and leadership effectiveness. She is the bestselling author of 22 books, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Entrepreneur, and is one of only 160 members in the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame..

10:30am – State of the Industry Panel

Phil Ingrassia | RV Dealers Association -Phil Ingrassia has served as President of the RV Dealers Association (RVDA) since 2012, leading the national trade association that represents RV dealers, rental operators, and aftermarket businesses across the United States. His work centers on advocacy, strategic communications, dealership employee professional development, and strengthening the business climate for RV retailers.  He currently serves on the board of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, an association for outdoor recreation businesses. Before becoming president, he served as RVDA’s Vice President of Communications, shaping the association’s messaging, public affairs strategy, and industry partnerships. His earlier career includes roles as Communications Director at the RV Industry Association (RVIA), a political reporter, and press specialist in the U.S. Senate.

Ben Hirsch  |  Campers Inn RV -Ben Hirsch is Chief Operating Officer and co-owner of Campers Inn RV, America’s largest family-owned and family-operated RV dealership group and the third largest nationally, with more than 50 locations across 22 states. Over the last 13 years, Ben has led the company’s growth from 6 locations to over 50 through dozens of acquisitions and multiple industry cycles, most recently the acquisition and turnaround of Lazydays RV. He has become one of the industry’s most vocal advocates for transparency and the customer experience, making that case in RVBusiness, on the RV Miles and RV Atlas podcasts, and at the RV Industry Power Breakfast. He serves on the FRVTA Board of Directors and several of its committees, as Treasurer of Priority RV Network, and as an At-Large Delegate to the RVDA Board of Delegates, a role he has held since 2014. Before the RV industry, Ben spent eight years in the U.S. Army as a Captain and UH-60 Black Hawk pilot, flying combat missions in Iraq and later commanding the United Nations Command Honor Guard in Seoul. He is a graduate of West Point and holds two master’s degrees, including an MBA from the Wharton School. He lives in Orange Park, Florida with his wife Laurie and their three children.

Gaby Gilbeau  |  RV Industry Association -Gaby Gilbeau, Director of State Affairs at the RV Industry Association, will provide an overview of the RVIA Government Affairs team’s current advocacy priorities and legislative efforts. The presentation will offer a brief look at the economic outlook for the RV industry, emerging legislative and regulatory issues, and key policy priorities being addressed at both the federal and state levels. Attendees will gain insight into the issues shaping the industry and RVIA’s efforts to advance and protect the interests of the RV community.

Bobby Cornwell |  Florida and Alabama RV Park and Campground Association -Bobby will talk about the RV Park and Campground Industry in Florida, including recent industry trends, RV park growth, economic indicators, industry partnerships and forecasts. Bobby Cornwell is the President and CEO of the Florida and Alabama Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (FRVCA). The State and Regional Association representing the interests of RV Parks and Campgrounds, and the Outdoor Hospitality Industry, in Florida and Alabama. Bobby began his career with the association in 1991 and in 2004 was appointed as the President and CEO. With over thirty years of campground association management experience, Bobby has had the pleasure of working and collaborating with many association executives, campground owners and operators, and industry leaders. He currently serves on the RVIA Campground Coalition Committee (RVCC), is a member of the Campground Association Management Professionals (CAMP), and is on the Board of Directors for VISIT FLORIDA representing the Florida RV Park and Campground Industry. Bobby graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising.

12:30pm – **Afternoon/Lunch on your own**
Check out the Hotel Recreation Guide with fun activity ideas

6:30pm – Cocktail Reception – Calusa Prefunction
7:30pm – The Queen’s Court Awards Dinner – Calusa E-H

Saturday, September 12, 2026

7:30am – 12:00pm – Registration Open – Great Egret C
7:30am – 8:30am – Breakfast & Networking – Calusa Pre-Function
8:30am – 12:30pm – Breakout Sessions – Blue Heron A-C & Great Egret A

DEALER COMPLIANCE & KNOWLEDGEBASE Ejola Cook & Marissa Kaliman | Kelley Kronenberg -Ejola Cook serves as a Partner and Business Unit Leader at Kelley Kronenberg, overseeing a comprehensive practice in corporate transactions, private equity, complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, social media representation, and entertainment and sports law. Her practice is enhanced by extensive experience across multiple industries including automotive, equestrian, yachting, and marine manufacturing. From 2015 to 2019, Ejola served as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for one of the largest privately owned boat manufacturers in the country, overseeing complex business transactions, regulatory compliance, and litigation. Concurrently, from 2015 to 2022, she held executive legal positions at one of the nation’s largest privately owned automotive dealerships, managing litigation, regulatory compliance, and business operations. Ejola’s extensive experience includes advising on federal and state regulatory compliance, including consumer protection laws, fair lending practices, truth in lending regulations, and various industry-specific requirements. She has also participated in legislative initiatives and policy discussions at both state and federal levels. -Marissa Kaliman is a Partner at Kelley Kronenberg, focusing her practice on business and corporate transactions, with an emphasis on regulatory compliance. She brings over sixteen years of legal and finance experience helping companies develop and expand their businesses through hands-on, business-oriented solutions. Prior to joining Kelley Kronenberg, Marissa served as General Counsel and Vice President of Compliance for a highly regulated finance company, where she launched the legal department, established corporate governance guidelines, and led multiple state examinations. She previously worked as Associate General Counsel for one of the largest independent car dealers in the country, serving as lead counsel on financing, acquisitions, real estate transactions, and compliance matters. Marissa earned her Bachelor of Arts from Carnegie Mellon University and her Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law. She served as a Board Member of the National Automobile Finance Association and as a Mentor in the Florida Bar Counsel to Counsel Mentoring Program. She is fluent in Spanish and conversational in French. 8:30am Blue Heron A 11:10am Blue Heron B

Florida Sales Tax Issues H. French Brown IV  |  Jones Walker LLP –French Brown offers clients nearly twenty years of experience practicing law and lobbying in the area of state and local taxation. French specializes in all Florida taxes including sales tax, corporate income tax, motor fuels tax, communications services tax, property tax, and documentary stamp tax. French began his legal career at the Florida Department of Revenue, quickly rising to the position of Deputy Director of the Office of Technical Assistance and Dispute Resolution. Over the last ten years, French has been deeply involved with most major tax legislation moving through the Florida Capitol. Through his representation of some of Florida’s largest trade associations and taxpayers, French has advocated for tax legislation to benefit both companies and taxpayers, passing dozens of pieces of tax legislation that have saved his clients and Floridian’s billions in reduced state and local taxes. He assists his clients with Florida tax planning and controversies before the Florida Department of Revenue and local Property Appraisers, and has resolved cases before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), Circuit Courts, and the First District Court of Appeals. 8:30am Great Egret A 9:50am Blue Heron C

BUILD YOUR OWN AI ASSISTANT: CREATING CUSTOM GPTS FOR YOUR RV DEALERSHIP Stephen K. Hudson  |  Hudson Mission Group, LLC -AI becomes much more valuable when it understands your business. In this hands-on session, Stephen Hudson, CEO of Hudson Mission Group, LLC, will show RV dealers how to create their own custom GPTs for everyday dealership needs. Attendees will learn how to build an AI assistant using their own processes, knowledge, and instructions, without needing to know how to code. Using practical RV dealership examples, Stephen will demonstrate how custom GPTs can support sales, customer service, marketing, employee training, operations, and other repetitive tasks. Attendees will leave understanding how to create, test, and improve a GPT they can begin using in their dealership. No coding or technical background required. 8:30am Blue Heron B 9:50am Blue Heron B

Travel safety: Open carry vs. Concealed Carry Sara Ryan, Athena’s Armory -We will discuss in depth the pros, cons and legality of carrying a firearm. This will also cover other means of personal protection, situational awareness and the possible consequences of having to defend yourself. 9:50am Great Egret A 11:10am Great Egret A

Beyond the Engine in RV Wonderland: Unlocking FMTC’s Complete Trade Pipeline Jarrod Demming  |  Fort Myers Technical College -Beyond the Engine in RV Wonderland: Unlocking FMTC’s Complete Trade Pipeline This presentation will introduce attendees to the skilled trades that are available from Fort Myers Technical College and how they could lead to your next hire. A brief overview of the different types of mechanics we train and then a trip through the looking glass of other programs that would add value to your team. Before stepping into his current role in 2022, Jarrod Demming has been a public school teacher, a technology support specialist, and regional manager of a retail establishment. He is a lifelong Floridian with a passion for connecting young tradespeople with fulfilling work in the state of Florida – keeping homegrown talent here. 8:30am Blue Heron C 11:10am Blue Heron C

Building the Next Generation of RV Technicians Through Industry Partnerships Lori Stowers  |  Jones Technical Institute -Finding qualified technicians remains one of the RV industry’s greatest challenges. This session explores how partnering with technical schools can reduce recruiting costs, shorten hiring timelines, and create an ongoing pipeline of entry-level technicians. Attendees will learn about Jones Technical Institute (J-Tech), Jacksonville’s hometown trade school, and gain insight into its Marine & Recreational Vehicle Technology program. Through real-world employer partnership examples, participants will discover practical approaches to workforce development, employer engagement, and technician training that benefit students, employers, and the future of the RV industry. 9:50am Blue Heron A 11:10am Blue Heron A

 

1:00pm – White Rabbit’s Late Game Show Luncheon – Calusa E-H
7:00pm – RV Wonderland After Dark Glow Party – Calusa Ballroom

Sunday, September 13, 2026

11:00am – Hotel Check-out

Hope to see you again next year!
Marriott Harbor Beach in Ft. Lauderdale, FL 
September 9-11, 2027