As MHProNews has learned from the RV/MH Hall of Fame, the list of his accomplishments include reducing the debt from $5.5 million to $1.2 million, adding a manufactured home to the museum, adding several historic RVs to the collection, and developing the Northern Indiana Event Center (NIEC) into an entertainment facility that covers over 50 percent of the Hall’s operating expenses each year, among others.
He has been lauded by industry leaders for his selfless devotion to his position. RVDA President Phil Ingrassia said, “Darryl has done an outstanding job uniting the industry behind the RV/MH Heritage Foundation and the RV/MH Hall of Fame. As a volunteer, it’s amazing the amount of work he has done to improve the visitor experience, make the hall more inclusive of all industry segments, and diversify foundation revenue.”
Cavco’s President and CEO, Joe Stegmayer, said “Darryl, a successful businessman in his own right, offered to be president and chief staff person of the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum. Darryl took on these responsibilities as a true volunteer–no salary, no incentive bonus, no compensation of any sort, no perks, no benefits!”
Barry Cole, former chairman of the board, said, “The RV/MH Hall of Fame is thriving and the building will be debt free shortly because of Darryl Searer. Not bad for a guy who would not accept any salary compensation in the four years since he took over.”
Stegmayer added, “I believe we owe a special debt of gratitude to Darryl Searer for taking the helm at a particularly tough and challenging time for the Foundation. The Foundation was mired in debt and was generating operating losses each year. Now, after four years of his volunteer service, the Hall operates in the black.” ##
(Photo credit: RV/MH Hall of Fame–Darryl Searer)
