RV Dealers Association

What RV Dealers Association does

RV Dealers Association (RVDA), formally The National RV Dealers Association, is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1970 and headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. It is the only national association exclusively dedicated to advancing the interests of U.S. RV retailers through education, member services, industry advocacy, and market expansion programs. The association serves RV dealership owners, fixed-operations personnel (service writers/advisors, parts specialists, parts managers, warranty administrators, service managers), and associate industry partners (suppliers, OEMs, advertising firms, financial institutions, consultants).

Its core product suite is delivered through the Mike Molino RV Learning Center, a wholly-owned educational subsidiary. The Learning Center operates an LMS at rvlearningonline.com offering five interactive online courses (Service Writer/Advisor, Parts Specialist, Parts Manager, Service Manager, Warranty Administrator) priced at $150 each, plus five corresponding professional certifications with application fees of $199-$249. Curriculum was co-developed with The Ohio State University Center on Education and Training for Employment. The ChannelPRO Mobile app provides free self-assessment readiness tests for certification preparation. RV Fixed Operations Today is a subscriber-only content platform for technical articles, OEM recalls, and training videos.

Revenue is generated across five streams: recurring membership dues, online course fees, certification application fees, publication and product sales (Service Management Guide 12th Edition at $333-$672, RV Damage Repair Estimator, J.D. Power RV valuation products at $275-$504, Go RVing marketing materials), and Convention/Expo event fees. Key partnerships include J.D. Power (valuation tools distribution), Wave Express ($100,000 pledge April 2024 supporting the Learning Center), NCM Associates (Duane Spader Leadership Scholarship training options), and the Kindlund Family Foundation (College Scholarship endowment). The 2026 RV Dealers Convention/Expo will be held November 9-13 at Paris Las Vegas, representing the association's flagship annual industry event and a primary member-engagement channel.

Name

RV Dealers Association

Legal name

The National RV Dealers Association

Website

https://rvda.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RVDA is a U.S. national nonprofit trade association providing education, certification, advocacy, and market expansion programs to RV retailers through its Mike Molino RV Learning Center subsidiary and annual Convention/Expo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfax

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: RVDA generates revenue through dealer membership fees, providing access to education, advocacy, benchmarking reports, retail statistics, and member discounts on products and services
2. Online Course Fees: Individual online courses for service writers, parts specialists, parts managers, warranty administrators, and service managers offered at $150 per course with interactive content and assessments
3. Certification Fees: Certification application and test fees ranging from $199 to $249 depending on credential type (Service Manager $249, Parts Manager $249, Service Writer/Advisor $199, Warranty Administrator $199, Parts Specialist $199)
4. Publication and Product Sales: Sale of Service Management Guide, RV Damage Repair Estimator, learning guides, J.D. Power RV valuation products, Go RVing marketing materials, and various industry-specific manuals and DVDs
5. Convention and Expo Fees: Annual RV Dealers Convention/Expo event generating revenue through exhibitor fees, attendee registration, and associated sponsorship opportunities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RVDA is the national trade association serving RV retailers through education, certification programs, publications, advocacy, market expansion support, and member services. Through its Mike Molino RV Learning Center subsidiary, it delivers professional certification for fixed operations roles (service writers, parts specialists/managers, warranty administrators, service managers), online training courses, industry valuation tools, and the annual RV Dealers Convention/Expo. It also administers the national Go RVing consumer advertising campaign and industry benchmarking programs.

Product overview

RVDA operates as a trade association offering a comprehensive suite of educational and business resources for RV dealers. The core offerings center on the Mike Molino RV Learning Center, which provides five professional certification programs (Service Writer/Advisor, Parts Specialist, Parts Manager, Service Manager, and Warranty Administrator), five online training courses aligned with these certifications, and extensive learning guides published in both print and CD-ROM formats. The organization also provides industry valuation tools through a J.D. Power partnership (RV Connect, MarketValues App, and Appraisal Guide Book), the Service Management Guide 12th Edition, and the RV Damage Repair Estimator. Marketing support includes the Go RVing Dealer Tie-In Program and promotional materials. Additional offerings include the Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship and the College Scholarship Program for aspiring RV industry professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mike Molino RV Learning Center: The educational subsidiary of RVDA offering certification programs, online training courses, and professional development for RV dealership employees including service writers, parts managers, warranty administrators, and service managers
• Society of Certified RV Professionals
• Go RVing
• RVDA Convention/Expo

Products and services

• RV Service Writer/Advisor Certification Professional certification program for RV dealership service writers and advisors, requiring one year of experience and a $199 application fee. Developed in partnership with The Ohio State University's Center on Education and Training for Employment.
• RV Parts Specialist Certification Certification program for parts specialists requiring one year of industry experience and a $199 application fee, covering merchandising, inventory management, and customer service.
• RV Parts Manager Certification Management-level certification requiring two years of experience in RV service, parts, or related industry with supervisory and budget planning knowledge, priced at $249.
• RV Service Manager Certification Management-level certification for service managers requiring two years of experience and a $249 application fee, covering workflow management, customer service, and revenue generation.
• RV Warranty Administrator Certification Certification program for warranty administrators requiring one year of experience and a $199 application fee, covering repair order processing, claim handling, and payment management.
• Service Writer/Advisor Online Course Interactive nine-module online course covering 43 key competency areas for service writers/advisors, priced at $150, with audio voice-overs, progress checks, and timed assessments.
• Parts Specialist Online Course Online training covering 45 key competency areas for parts specialists across eight modules, focusing on merchandising, inventory management, and customer service, priced at $150.
• Parts Manager Online Course Four-module course covering 20 key competency areas for parts managers, including human resources and financial resource management, priced at $150.
• Service Manager Online Course Fourteen-module course covering service management topics including workflow management, customer service, revenue generation, and personnel management, priced at $150.
• Warranty Administrator Online Course Eleven-module course covering warranty administration topics including processing repair orders, handling claims, and managing payments, priced at $150.
• Service Management Guide - 12th Edition Comprehensive 100+ page guide offering average work unit times for RV technicians with Service Check Sheets for service managers, available in manual, CD-ROM, and printed binder formats.
• RV Damage Repair Estimator - 4th Issue Reference tool for consistent, data-supported claim estimates for collision, storm, and vandalism repair. Helps service departments prepare estimates for insurance companies and RV owners.
• The Damage Repair Estimator On-Line Online system enabling users to create customized repair estimates, upload photos and documents, with a 30-day free trial available.
• J.D. Power RV Connect Annual subscription service providing values for recreation vehicles including truck campers, motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, park models and camping trailers, with a database of 3,000+ manufacturers and 250,000+ models.
• J.D. Power MarketValues Specialty Vehicle App Mobile app combining CONNECT and Valuation Guide data for RV valuations with values updated six times per year, offered at discounted member pricing.
• J.D. Power RV Appraisal Guide Book Essential reference tool for dealers to determine used trade-in and retail market values for all types and categories of RVs, offered at discounted member pricing.
• RV Fixed Operations Today Subscription Subscriber-only resource website offering technical articles, training videos, education resources, and OEM recall information for RV dealership fixed operations professionals.
• Go RVing Dealer Tie-In Program National advertising and promotion campaign providing dealers with leads, stock footage, and marketing materials to promote RV travel and sales at the local level.
• RV Dealers Convention/Expo Annual flagship industry event bringing together RV dealers, manufacturers, and suppliers through educational workshops, exhibitor displays, and networking opportunities.
• Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship Leadership development scholarship providing training options valued between $10,000 and $13,000 for RVDA dealer member employees, including Total Management, Built to Perform, and Fixed Operations Package training.
• Mike Molino RV Learning Center College Scholarship $5,000 annual scholarship funded by the Kindlund Family Foundation for undergraduate students pursuing degrees in business, finance, economics, or RV industry-related fields.
• Certification Readiness Tests/Self-Assessments Five self-assessment tests available via the ChannelPRO Mobile app to help service management and parts personnel gauge preparedness for certification exams, valued at $125.

Quantifiable outcome

• Five professional certifications available for fixed operations personnel with eligibility requirements and rigorous testing processes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Wave ExpresscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Wave Express, one of North America's largest RV transporters, pledged $100,000 to the Mike Molino RV Learning Center to support fixed operations educational programs. The pledge recognizes the RV Service Writer/Advisor Program as 'made possible by Wave Express' and demonstrates Wave Express's commitment to serving dealers with integrity and supporting RV industry professional development.
• The Ohio State University Center on Education and Training for EmploymentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop RV Learning Center certifications, competency profiles, and instructional materials for RV service, parts, and warranty professionals. The collaboration created comprehensive job and task analyses forming the basis of all certification programs and online courses.
• J.D. PowercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRVDA offers J.D. Power RV valuation products including RV Connect (database of 3,000+ manufacturers and 250,000+ models), MarketValues Specialty Vehicle App, and RV Appraisal Guide Book at discounted member prices. These products help dealers make valuation decisions for auctions, trade-ins, and retail pricing.
• NCM AssociatesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCM Associates provides training options for the Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship, including Total Management 1 and 2, Built to Perform, Fixed Operations Package, and Remote Coaching Sessions. Working directly with Mark Spader, scholarship recipients select training aligned with professional goals.
• Continuing Education Providers NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRVDA maintains relationships with authorized CEU providers including AIRXCEL, Bob Clements International, Dealer*PRO* Training, FRVTA, Lippert Components (LCI), NTP-STAG, PRVCA, Spader Business Management, and 15 additional training organizations for fixed operations certification support.
• ChannelPRO MobilesupportingTechnology or IntegrationChannelPRO Mobile developed the mobile app offering free access to RV Learning Center's five self-assessment readiness tests for service management and parts personnel, valued at $125. The app provides knowledge gap identification to gauge preparedness for certification.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Bob Clements International: RV-specific sales and F&I training company listed as one of RVDA's authorized continuing education providers. An adjacent training vendor competing for RV dealer training dollars rather than a true peer association.
• Spader Business Management: Provider of RV dealership management training (Total Management 1 & 2, Built to Perform, Fixed Operations Package) used within RVDA's Duane Spader Leadership Scholarship. Functions as an ecosystem partner/adjacent training vendor to RVDA's Learning Center offerings.

Direct peers

• RV Industry Association (RVIA): The national trade association representing RV manufacturers, component suppliers, and aftermarket parts — the manufacturer-side counterpart to RVDA. Highly comparable as a peer U.S. trade association serving the same RV industry ecosystem with adjacent membership, advocacy, and convention activities.
• Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA): A national trade association serving recreational marine dealers with a comparable membership, education, certification, advocacy, and annual dealer-focused event model — closely mirroring RVDA's structure in an adjacent recreational vehicle category.
• Automotive Service Association (ASA): A trade association serving mechanical and collision repair businesses with education, training, and advocacy. Comparable membership-and-education-driven model that intersects with the fixed-operations service roles RVDA's Learning Center certifies.
• RV Technical Institute (RVTI): The RV industry's training arm offering technician certification and curriculum. Comparable because it competes in the same RV-specific vocational training and certification space, though RVTI focuses on technicians while RVDA focuses on service writers, parts, and warranty roles.
• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA): The largest U.S. trade association representing franchised new-car and truck dealers. Directly comparable business model — dues-based membership, education/certification, advocacy, annual convention/expo, and dealer services — applied to a different vehicle vertical.
• National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM): Trade association for trailer manufacturers and dealers focused on safety standards and compliance. Comparable trade-association model serving the trailer side of the RV industry with adjacent compliance and education programming.

Broad incumbents

• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) — Dealer Academy / ATD: NADA's education subsidiary offering dealer-management training and certifications across the broader automotive retail channel. Comparable in scale and scope to RVDA's Mike Molino RV Learning Center but serving auto dealers rather than RV dealers.
• Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC): National trade association for outdoor hospitality (RV parks, campgrounds). Adjacent in the RV ecosystem but serves parks/operators rather than dealers; overlaps with RVDA on the Go RVing consumer campaign partnership and broader industry advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/rvlearningcenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/rvlearningcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/1941545
• Xx.com/rvdaofna

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RV Dealers Association