For Immediate Release

JoAnn Mickelson
Arizona Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds
602.403.6196
arizonaarvc@aol.com
GoCampingInArizona.com

Arizona ARVC Hosts Conference, to get New Executive Director

Members of the Arizona Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds got to meet their future executive director during the association’s convention in April

PHOENIX, Ariz., May 11, 2021 – Susan Brenton, a trade association management professional who has represented Manufactured Housing Communities of Arizona since 2003, has been selected by Arizona ARVC’s board of directors to become the association’s next executive director. Brenton will replace JoAnne Mickelson and David Schenck, who have jointly held the position since 2018, while Mickelson has managed the association for the past decade.

Brenton’s contract will be signed during the Arizona ARVC board’s annual planning retreat in August. She will officially take over management of Arizona ARVC on January 1, following Mickelson and Schenck’s retirement at the end of the year.

Roughly 75 park operators, vendors and industry officials attended Arizona ARVC’s annual convention, which took place April 21 at Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino in Laveen.

While Arizona ARVC was unable to hold a convention last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mickelson said attendance at this year’s convention was strong and that the association has continued to grow its membership base.

New members include:

  • Desert Springs Ranch RV Resort & Community, Casa Grande
  • Garden Oasis RV Resort, Yuma
  • Green Valley RV Resort, Green Valley
  • Havasu Hills RV Resoet, Lake Havasu City
  • Hidden Treasures RV Park, Douglas
  • River Dreamers RV Park, Ehrenberg (under construction)
  • River’s Edge RV Resort, Winterhaven, CA (across the river from Yuma)
  • Sunscape RV Resort, Casa Grande
  • Woody Mountain Campground, Flagstaff

Convention speakers include Melissa Parham of the Zona Law Group in Scottsdale, who talked about state legislative issues involving COVID-related evictions and other topics. Other spearks talked about dynamic pricing and human resource issues.

Seventeen vendors attended the convention, including campersAPP; Campspot; Champion Homes; Cooper Cardinal & Company, LLC It’s All About Satellites; Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance; Park Brokerage; Skyweb Networks; Strait Web Solutions; TengoInternet; Utility Supply Group; Jabba Communications; Access Parks; Coin & Professional Equipment Co. and Inex Technologies.

Several awards were also presented during the convention, incuding:

  • Small Park of the Year: Vista del Sol RV Park, Bullhead City
  • Medium Park of the Year: Desert’s Edge RV Park, Phoenix
  • Large Park of the Year: Verde Ranch RV Resort, Camp Verde
  • Mega Park of the Year: Voyager RV Resort, Tucson

The Jack Denton Memorial Award was presented to David Schenck, who become co-executive director of Arizona ARVC in 2018 after retiring from the insurance business. Schenck is nationally known for his work in the campground insurance business. His insurance business included 10 years with Sturgis, SD-based Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance; 15 years with Denver-based Jim Calfee Insurance; and 25 years as an insurance agency owner/agent based in Omaha, NE.

Mickelson and Schenck were also recognized for their time that they have provided to the association as co-executive directors.

The Supplier of the Year Award was presented to Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance. Special recognition was also given to Annette Weinell and Wendy Bykofsky, of Rincon Country West RV Resort in Tucson, and to Melissa Parham, of Zona Law Group, for their service to Arizona ARVC.

About the Arizona Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds

The Arizona Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds is the statewide trade association for campgrounds and RV parks. In addition to hosting a travel planning website at www.GoCampingInArizona.com, the association publishes the Arizona RV and Camping Guide, which won the State Directory of the Year Award from the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC). The 32-page color guide features more than 90 campgrounds, RV parks and resorts across the Grand Canyon State. Consumers can request the guide by emailing arizonaarvc@aol.com.