In August, the RV/MH Hall of Fame will celebrate the 2025 class of inductees, five from each industry.
“Our selection committees held meetings to review in detail all the nominations submitted for consideration of induction in the 2025 class of RV/MH Heritage Foundation’s Hall of Fame,” outgoing Hall of Fame President Darryl Searer said. “The committees were impressed with the number and quality of nominations.”
The following individuals have accepted the Hall of Fame’s invitation to attend the 53rd annual induction ceremony. The gala event will take place at the Heritage Foundation museum and conference facility in Elkhart, Indiana, on August. 18.
Manufactured Housing Industry Inductees
Kurt Kelley — Texas-based Insurance Provider Mobile Insurance
Kurt Kelley, who was nominated by Spencer Roane, of SECO and Pentagon Properties, has worked at Mobile Insurance since 1991, has owned the business since 1998, and insures hundreds of manufactured home communities nationwide. He is a board-certified attorney, co-founder and managing member of the American Insurance Alliance, a community owner, founder and operator of the annual TexCo conference in Woodlands, Texas, and is the founder and publisher of Manufactured Housing Review. “Kurt Kelley is a valuable presence in Texas and throughout the U.S.,” former community owner/event organizer/industry writer George Allen said in a letter of support for Kelley’s nomination.
Bill W. Poynter — Kentucky Manufacturer and Retailer Guerdon Industries/Great American Homes and The Affordable Housing Mart
Bill Poynter, who was nominated by former Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute Executive Director Betty Whittaker, dedicated 34 years of his professional life to the RV and manufactured housing industries. He gave enumerable hours to the KMHI, the state certification and licensure board, and the Manufactured Housing Institute. “Bill was instrumental in the early development of regulations for the industry, as well as amendments to the laws and regulation,” Whittaker said. Poynter passed away in 2006.
Mark Raukar — Michigan Manufactured Home Retailer Little Valley Homes
Mark Raukar, who was nominated by John Lindley, president of the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association, began working at Little Valley Homes in 1987 as a young man who was interested in helping run the family business, founded by father Matt Raukar and his uncle Ed Raukar. In addition to operating the retail business, which he has owned and operated since 2004, Raukar owns and operates six manufactured home communities in the state. He has volunteered time with the state association in Michigan, had been a longstanding member of the Michigan Manufactured Housing Commission, and has worked with MHI, and other groups. “Mark is always ready when asked and will go out of his way to make sure he can help to answer questions, give his expert opinion, or be present whenever there is an industry cause,” Lindley stated in his nomination remarks.
Steve Schaub — Colorado-based Community Executive Yes Communities
Steve Schaub, who was nominated by longtime colleague Karen Hamilton, has worked in the industry for more than 30 years and since 2017 has been president and CEO of Yes Communities, growing one of the nation’s largest portfolios of land-lease communities from 178 to nearly 300 communities. He founded and operated BaseCamp Capital from 2003 to 2017, has served as chairman for the National Communities Council, vice chair of the Urban Land Institute, and was recognized in 2019 as one of the Top 100 Business Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs. “Steve’s understanding of market shifts, regulatory environments, and customer needs has been instrumental in driving significant growth and innovation,” Clayton President Kevin Clayton stated in a letter of support for Schaub’s nomination.
Nelson Steiner — Florida-based Community Owner Steiner Communities
Nelson Steiner, who was nominated by Florida Manufactured Housing Association CEO Jim Ayotte, worked in the manufactured housing industry for more than five decades, leading Tampa’s Steiner Communities since the 1970s, starting with Fountain View Estates, a 546-homesite 55+ property. He also ran Park Place Housing Sales Centers, and received MHI’s Community of the Year award in 2005 for Windward Knoll in Thonotosassa, Florida. He gave countless hours to state and national trade associations, and was noted for “selfless contributions and strong character and charm” according to Ayotte’s nomination statement. “Nelson is a pure entrepreneur. To build a successful manufactured home community business from the ground up is a daunting challenge,” Murex Properties President Steve Adler said in support of Steiner’s nomination. “The developments that Nelson has built here in Florida were state of the art and continue to provide quality housing and lifestyles to many retired families.”
RV Industry Inductees
Garry Bewernick — Distributor — Atlas Trailer, Chestermere, Alberta, CA
Thomas Irons — OEM/Supplier — ASA Electronics, Middlebury, Indiana
Jason Lippert — Supplier — Lippert Components, Elkhart, Indiana
Chad Reece — Manufacturer — Winnebago, Forest City, Iowa
Larry Trout — Dealer — Toppers RVs, Waller, Texas
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