RVBusiness, September/October 2019

Brian Coley and Ryan Brady Go Public With Their Plans for New RV Builder Alliance RV If you think about the capital that were investing into this business weve got a very very long term approach noted company co founder Coley Brady Were not operating on a two or three year plan Its a 10 20 or 30 year plan Its no secret by now that once retired RV industry executive Brian Brady and his two sons Coley and Ryan Brady are currently setting up an elaborate new towable RV manufacturing firm at a 110 acre industrial site on the east side of Elkhart Ind Now theyve decided to go public with their 12 million initial plans for a company theyre calling Alliance RV an independent startup that is somewhat of an anomaly in an age of rampant consolidation Brian Brady best known for helping to launch both Damon Corp and Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC prior to his 2012 retirement as president and CEO of Heartland and his sons both former Heartland executives say the idea for their new company emerged over a Christmas dinner when they realized that they shared a collective urge to start a company that would enable them to do things their own way I guess we had the entrepreneurial buzz said co founder Ryan Brady who with his brother will be running the company on a daily basis We were working for a good company where we enjoyed what we were doing But as we looked around we thought there might be a better way to do things As we got to talking we came to the conclusion that yes whats going on right now is good but we think we can do it better continued on page 215 Suppliers Furrion and Lippert Components Inc to End Unique Distribution Partnership in 2020 After Four Years S E P T E M B E R O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 RVBusiness 11 TOPNews of the IN BRIEF LCI Industries announced that effective Jan 1 2020 Furrion Limited will take over the sale and distribution of Furrion products previously handled by LCI LCI and Furrion according to a press release have enjoyed a successful four year partnership providing Furrion appliances and electronic products to OEMs and aftermarket customers throughout the U S and Canada during which time Furrion has grown significantly While the businesses will continue to explore opportunities to work together with the potential impact of expanded tariffs LCI and Furrion have decided that it is in the best interests of their customers that Furrion distribute its products directly to the customer and assume all responsibilities previously carried out by LCI relating to Furrion products the announcement stated Both parties have been working together to achieve this goal and will continue to do so in order to ensure a seamless transition said the release adding that Furrion is retaining an option to lease LCIs warehouse and related equipment after Jan 1 2020 This transition and the added ability for LCI and Furrion to pursue tailored strategies separately and more effectively given significant changes in global trade will allow LCI to focus on strategic acquisitions and product development to meet the evolving needs of our customers said Jason continued on page 24 Thor Names Graves as New Independent Chairman Veteran Thor Industries Inc board member Andy Graves assumed the position of board chairman on Aug 1 according to a late July press release from the Elkhart Ind based RV manufacturer Graves succeeds Thor co founder Peter Orthwein who stepped down as executive chairman into the newly created position of chairman emeritus Orthwein is to remain an active member of the board see story on page 54 Graves the companys first independent chairman has spent the past 35 years in leadership roles in global manufacturing businesses Cummins CEO Retiring Cummins Inc announced the retirement of President and Chief Operating Officer Rich Freeland on Aug 21 after a 40 year career at the engine maker Tony Satterthwaite currently president of Cummins distribution business succeeds Freeland as president and COO In addition Components President Tracy Embree succeeds Satterthwaite as president of distribution Chief Technical Officer Jennifer Rumsey succeeds Embree as components president Jim Fier succeeds Rumsey as Chief Technical Officer All five moves are effective on October 15 Dometic Moves Americas HQ RV industry supplier Dometic Corp in mid August announced that it is moving its American RV headquarters to a new address in an existing facility on the east side of Elkhart Ind the same city in which it was already located The new Dometic Americas RV headquarters is located on the southwest corner of County Road 17 and Verdant Drive with customer service remaining at the former HQ lolcation on Main Street RVB Alliance RVs management team includes L R Erik Bartman Tim Miller Dennis Donat Ryan Brady Bill Martin Coley Brady Brian Brady Ben Randall Charlie Cohen Aaron Fidler Jason Lippert