The ARV Team

Ben is a member of the finishing team, where he contributes his decades of experience working with wood, leather, and fabrics in the pipe organ industry. He has been playing guitar for over 30 years, and restores vintage motorcycles in his free time.

Rick is a skilled, hardworking exterior finishing specialist. An excellent painter, his attention to detail in all aspects of our motorhome production is evident in is work. Rick lives with his wife and son. They enjoy hunting and fishing as a family.

Jody leads ARV’s financial functions. She also plays a key role in human resources and data management. In her spare time, Jody loves spending time with her two daughters and two dogs.

Mariela handles financial transactions for the Advanced RV team and our clients. She is originally from Peru, and in her free time, Mariela enjoys spending time with her son and two daughters.

Don works with the cabinet team to build, laminate, and install cabinets. His love for this work started at a young age—Don has been a carpenter since the age of 14. As a Seabee for the United States Naval Construction Forces, Don was a mason and builder.

Steve is part of our cabinet team. He brings 14 years of aircraft cabinetry skills to his role, as he helps ARV provide innovative, functional, and elegant solutions. In his free time, he fishes and coaches softball.

Trevor brings hands-on furniture experience with his industrial design background. He supports both the design team and the production team as a van build comes to life.. Trevor enjoys making music, looking through vinyl record bins, and rescuing vintage furniture.

Mitchell coordinates ARV’s Marketing and Social Media efforts. An Ohio State graduate that specializes in media technologies, he is always behind a camera or editing a video. In his free time, Mitchell makes music, explores nature, and pets dogs.

On my first date with my partner, he asked me what my life goal was, and my answer remains the same to this day: I just want to be happy...simple. I am the Customer Relations and Office Coordinator at ARV. I thrive in a fast-paced environment and working with my team and our customers. Vacationing with my family in our RV or driving to the ocean, having great conversations while taking long walks, and spreading positivity are my joys! I am 100% Croatian and first generation American. My mom is my idol because of her patience, generosity and desire to always help others. My favorite motto is "Carpe Diem", you just have to!

Jon is ARV’s lead engineer with 25 years of factory automation and design experience. He’s an entrepreneur and an inventor at heart, having developed a variety of Class 1 medical devices. In his spare time, Jon works with tractors, boats, and off-road vehicles.

Mike is our production leader. As an expert, he applies his high standards to everything he touches. Mike grew up working on all things mechanical & creating architectural designs.

I started working at ARV on my 24th birthday, initially for data analysis, and have since dabbled in quality checking and video editing. Before ARV, I worked at an urban hydroponics farm in Cincinnati, a smoothie shop in Hawaii, and an off-grid hostel in Australia. Recent hobbies have been dragging my coworkers to climb with me, training for a half marathon, and 35mm film photography.

Family, country, and honor. These are three things that my father instilled in me. I am a proud US Army Veteran, and I served during the end of the Vietnam War. At ARV, I am a mechanical designer. I like to fish, garden, and play with my grandsons. I have been married now for thirty-seven years to my wife, Barb. We have two children and two grandsons. I used to train dogs for dog shows, and still have two: Lilly and Rocky. The craziest event I was ever associated with was The Gathering of the Juggalos in Cave Rock, Illinois.

All of my jobs over the years have involved sewing, so it’s no surprise that my position at ARV is the Upholstery Lead. Starting at a young age, I helped my mom make quilts. My three grandchildren are my greatest passion in life, and I look forward to being there as they grow up and choose their own paths. When there are no kids to chase after, I like sitting in the backyard, a nice gin with cucumber and mint in one hand, my dog, Willow, for company.

I am an Alabama native with a Master’s in Industrial Design from Auburn University. At ARV, I work with clients to understand their objectives and ensure they are met. In my free time, I enjoy making art to display in local galleries, two stepping at hardcore punk shows, and playing soccer. I am one of three girls. My father was in the Navy for 25 years and my mother was a pychotherapist. I also have a talent for self-deprecating humor.

Frank is tasked with a wide range of activities at ARV. He previously owned an Internet service provider and has worked in tech, construction, and custom fabrication. Frank enjoys boating, home brewing beers, and playing the drums (check out Pawn Band on Facebook!).

From the fractal patterns in a leaf, to how the size of the universe could also be a measurement of time, I am passionate about detail and wonder. I am the Master of Pre-Cab operations, though I’d say I don’t really work here, because all the work I do I truly enjoy. The worst part of my day is when I leave. (Because of the traffic, you sappy reader). The work I do here is rarely seen, but it is the foundation of the whole build, which I take very seriously. As my wife, Rose and I age gracefully, I keep a couple goals: outliving my healthy family and setting foot on all seven continents.

Bill works in our finishing department here at ARV. He previously worked in residential and industrial construction and maintenance prior to arriving at ARV. In his free time, Bill is a guitarist and vocalist in a local band.

If we are allowed one addiction in life, mine is volleyball. When I’m not on the court, I’m top roping on the rocks, traveling, writing, taking pictures, or adventuring with my corgi, Scully. My dream is to be a full-time fiction author. I taught English in Le Mans, France for two years, which will forever feel like my second home. I’m the Editor-in-Chief of the Ethnosphere magazine at ARV, while also working on social media, marketing, and photography. Life is about collecting moments of magic wherever you go, getting lost in the night sky, and immersing yourself in the things that set your soul on fire.

I am the Logistics Coordinator and have been with ARV since the end of 2020. Coming from a family of 6 children, I’ve always been up in everybody’s business, finding something to do either to the detriment, or support, of whomever I choose as a victim. When I'm not running all over Northeast Ohio picking up RV parts, I enjoy a large variety of outdoor activities, and am always willing to try new things. A few of my favorites have been shark diving off the coast of Florida, mountain biking, and skydiving in Utah. On poor weather days, I prefer to stay inside and play video games, listen to music, and cook.

Sewing has always been a hobby of mine, and I was self-employed sewing for the home decor industry for ten years. Even when I’m not at ARV, (working in the upholstery department), I am watching sewing videos or working on projects of my own. My greatest passion in life is my faith and church. My husband and I lived in Spain for three years, which gave me the opportunity to travel around and see many incredible things. We have three children and one grandson. I also am committed to learning how to play piano.

Alex is a master upholsterer who designs and creates custom beds, seats, and other textile components in our vans. Originally from Peru, Alex moved to Rome, Italy, where he spent over 15 years at the five-star Hassler + Ritz Carlton hotels.

I am a machinist at ARV. I’ve been married for over 30 years, with two children, Brittany and Anthony. I’d like to go fishing more, and I play some poker, but stay away from gambling because I’m not lucky enough. The most exciting trip I’ve taken was to Alaska with my wife before we were married. We flew in a floatplane and landed in a lake. There was no one else around. You’ve never experienced a quiet like that.

Steve completes electrical & mechanical research and development for ARV & assists with production. His talent lies in integrating components & systems into a cohesive, easy-to-use interface. Steve also serves as a fireman and EMT.

Dave’s experience with custom designing transporters for Nascar and Motocross is pivotal to his role in ARV’s fabrication department. His attention to detail and willingness to learn is essential. In his leisure time, David can be found working on hot rods, gunsmithing, and hunting.

I’ve been working at ARV since 2015 in Cabinets. I’ve always liked the math part of carpentry, figuring out the angles and how to make things work. When I’m off the clock, I’m still building decks, garden arbors, and other projects people request. I worked for 8 years delivering 6-8 tons of ice a day to Amish homes. I spent two weeks outside New Orleans with the fire department after Hurricane Katrina, fighting fires, cleaning, and demolishing. I like to motor through life, taking things as they come and dealing with what’s in front of me. Don’t need anything fancy.

I’ve been with ARV since van number 1, in 2012. I’m a cabinet maker. When I’m not at work, I like camping, kayaking, and biking. I have two children, Mariah and Paul. I’m an elder at my church, and both at work and in life, I want to be all that I can be.

Brian is an expert craftsman & a resource for every part of our builds. His commitment to quality and productivity is the result of 22 years of experience. Brian enjoys competitive cycling, long-distance running, and touring on his motorcycle.

Amy is our importer of fine goods and makes sure all our materials arrive on time. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her horse, with her dogs, or hiking. She enjoys traveling and camping with her husband and they built a tiny home together.

Carolyn works in ARV’s upholstery shop. She has expertise both as a seamstress and a craftsman. She takes an active interest in ARV’s clients & enjoys conversations about camping. Carolyn spends her free time cooking and baking. Her homemade bread is exquisite, trust us.

Mike is the president of ARV. He supplies ideas & motivation, enabling team members to take ownership of their roles. Mike and his wife Marcia toured the U.S. and Canada in four different Class B Sprinter motorhomes, inspiring the creation of ARV in 2012.

I’m in charge of programming and running our CNC machine & 3D printers. Throughout my 8 years at ARV I have picked up some responsibilities in upper cabinet design. My interest in manufacturing started with learning to weld at a young age, which led me to take metal shop classes in high school and graduate from the Advanced Manufacturing Program at Auburn Career Center. Some hobbies I’ve picked up along the way have been knife sharpening and mead making.

Chris ensures each ARV motorhome meets client objectives and expectations. He ensures each system is functioning properly and each aspect of the motorhome is crafted to the highest standard. Chris enjoys hiking, playing hockey, and going on motorcycle trips.

As a member of ARV's finishing team, Zach is one of the last people to touch a van before delivery. When he's not at work, you can find Zach in the gym, playing football, or working on his pride and joy: a modified Mustang named Selena.

I started at ARV in 2017 in the Pre-Cab dept., and from there moved up to the Electrical Dept, Service, and now my current position in the Plumbing Dept. I continue to learn something new each day from the team here at ARV. I get to spend my free time with my beautiful daughter, Skylar, who is 6 (going on 16) and my amazing wife of 15 years, Ashley. Whenever I get a chance to sneak away from the girls, you can find me either out in my garage working on the honeydew list (which I am finding out will never end) or out on Lake Erie fishing for walleye.

Jacob is a craftsman with a variety of skills in carpentry and machining. His love for mechanical work started at a young age as he worked on cars alongside his grandfather. In his free time, Jacob enjoys being a Cleveland sports fan and spending time in the Metroparks.

Since 2015, I’ve been working as the client interface for ARV. I’ve been married for over 20 years and have three children. In 2022 I attended a week-long circus school where I worked on various forms of acrobatics, including the flying trapeze. I used to compete in marathons and triathlons, then switched to circus acrobatics in my late 30s. One of my goals is to medal individually in an aerial acrobatic competition.

I’ve been around cars since childhood. My dad would take me to the local drag races he participated in, then taught me how to work on cars as a teenager. At 15, I replaced the exhaust system of our station wagon. At ARV, I’m a service/suspension tech. I love music and am working on a project relating to music therapy. My biggest goal at the moment is to finish restoring my own car that I can drive day to day and take to the tracks. Also, I hate Ketchup and odd numbers, but I make a wicked chicken noodle soup and offer it to anyone and everyone.

I have worked on every single van at ARV, first as a subcontractor, then as a full-time team member when I sold my woodworking business to ARV in 2018. Now, I’m a cabinet builder/coordinator. My wife and I have three daughters who are all musical and beautiful (of which I am envious). I’m passionate about using my skills to the best of my abilities and taking care of my mental health. Most impressively, I have a limitless internal library of movie quotes from the 80s.

Rick leads ARV’s plumbing station. His experience includes decades of maintenance and carpentry work. His main job is installing hot and cold water lines for the faucets in our motor homes. He enjoys camping and canoeing with his wife, especially in The Alleghany State Park.

Born in Houston, Texas, Mark recently moved to Cleveland from Woodbridge, Virginia. He is married with 4 kids. He recently joined ARV and is looking forward to working here for many years.

I’ve worked with ARV since their first van in 2012. Starting in the cabinet shop as a contractor, my role gradually moved to design and client interaction. I became a full-time ARV employee in 2020. I love spending time outside, (riding ATVs or driving Jeeps, or just walking in a quiet woods away from people), and I bought an 87 acre property along the Ohio River, which has an old log cabin that I am renovating. My wife, Amy, and I have two sons, Neal and Ray. I can play the tuba, and someday I’d love to own horses.

Emily is a versatile member of the production team. She has a Master’s degree in sculpture from Boston University, and has professionally made theater sets, museum-grade globes, and other custom fabrications. “I've spent my career building beautiful, interesting, weird things.”

After 10 years in new construction and 15 at a cabinet shop, I found ARV, where I continue to work on cabinets. I am most passionate about my family: my wife of almost 20 years, Becky, and my kids, Penny and Guy. Lately, I’ve been getting back into drawing, doing realistic sketches of iconic celebrities such as Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix. Otherwise, I like hiking and kayaking. My goal in life is to have it in order, and be content. Oh, and I can wiggle my ears.