On Aug. 18, the RV/MH Hall of Fame celebrated 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.
Joe Stegmayer, chairman of the board for the hall, welcomed guests and set the stage for the evening.
“We are here to educate and remind people of the great contribution factory-built homes have provided over the years,” he said.
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.
“I am flattered, honored and proud to be nominated to the MH Hall of Fame,” Kelley said following his induction. The ceremony was well run and inspiring. Being recognized by one’s peers for a career of being a quality professional is truly humbling.”
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.
“I do know that my husband would be thrilled by this,”Poynter’s wife Priscilla said in accepting the honor for her late husband. “The mobile home business was his life. He worked 6 1/2 days a week and had a great time of it.”
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.
Raukar, in his acceptance comments at the dinner, said during his career he “wore many hats” including for advocacy efforts on the local, state, and national levels.
“To advocate for the industry on priorities, it’s such important work,” he said.
He thanked the corporate colleagues, the team he leaned on over the years.
“We have always worked side by side to move this industry forward. I wouldn’t be here without you,” Raukar said.
“We don’t just sell homes,” he said. “We create opportunities for families all across this country.”
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.
Schaub emphasized thoughtful hiring as a way to grow an organization.
He said when they organized Yes Communities, they had three parks and $14 million. Yes now has more than 200 communities in 18 states, 1,500 employees, and is valued at more than $2 billion.
“I’m so blessed,” Schaub said.
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.”
Steiner moved from Michigan to Florida with an interest in mobile home parks.
“We thought we might build one or two and then come back up. We were very successful… We built more than 50 communities in Florida, and some in Colorado, too,” he said.
He thanked his family and his colleagues and expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you for the honor of being here,”
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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