07/04/2025
Feel Good Friday: The Tip of Our Spear
It is a true pleasure to write about THE Chuck Lasley, our Director of Events and OTR Products, this week. I’ve known Chuck for 7 or 8 years now – ever since his family moved to Texas from Indiana. I was his daughter’s youth advisor at church, and he and Gina became fast friends shortly after moving into our congregation and learning that Chuck had just taken a job at my dad’s RV dealership.
There are moments in life that no doubt seem small to some but are core memories for others. This post isn’t about me, but I will never forget the morning after a very serious, very major medical event in my life which ended with a Careflight to brain surgery. Chuck and Gina were the first people outside of my immediate family to show up to the ICU the morning after. They heard the news and stopped their busy lives to rush to the hospital. That is the kind of person Chuck is ... and it’s been a super fun year to work alongside the man who brings the party, everywhere he goes!
Needless to say, it’s super fitting that today’s Feel Good Friday falls on a day of celebration and fireworks!
After putting out the request for input from his team, Corey Gann, was the first to respond – which says a lot because I typically hear from the male population last (if at all) when it comes to talking about ‘feel good’ stuff. Corey told me, “here is the chuck I know and love ... Chuck is an amazing person to work with! He maintains our division as a family unit. Chuck is a machine, working almost round the clock for NIRVC, AIM Club, and OTR; plus taking care of his family and serving at his church - it's quite incredible. He is always a voice of reason when things get crazy in our work family. However, we all know when he is frazzled because his hair gets messy, LOL. I know we all love Chuck and couldn't get through all the things we do without him.”
That made me laugh because I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Chuck with messy hair, but now I need to pay closer attention!
As the emails and texts trickled in, I have to tell y’all - I think there may be as many, if not more, pictures and videos of Chuck than Angie. And, I thought Angie had a LOT! My phone and inbox was buzzing all week long.
This week, Heather sent not one, but TWO emails. The first of which was sweet and a bit tender as she said, “over the past (almost) eight years, working with Chuck has been nothing short of a learning journey. He has taught me everything I know about event planning - right down to the tiniest details. But Chuck is more than just a boss to me; he’s a true friend. He has the patience of Job (and honestly, he needs it - he works with me every day)! I know I’m not always the easiest when I’ve got a strong vision in my head that might not quite align with his, but somehow, he always helps me find a way to bring it to life. Chuck has not only shaped me professionally, but he’s also helped me grow personally. His guidance, trust, and unwavering support have made a lasting impact on who I am today. Thank you, Chuck for your leadership, your friendship, and for believing in me, even on the chaotic days.” Anytime someone tells you that you’ve made a lasting impact on who they are as a person – you’re a great human. The end.
(Stay tuned for the second email from Heather ... it’s my favorite)
If I was going to write about Chuck, I knew I needed Stephanie Lopez’s input, even though she isn’t a direct AIM Club team member. Steph and Chuck have worked together for quite some time, and Steph is one of our RV Lifestyle Specialists who frequently travels to rallies with Chuck’s team. Steph said, “I feel lucky to have worked with Chuck from the start of his time here as our Sales Manager. His steady leadership, kindness, and true care for people made a lasting impression as just a genuinely good human to work for and with. Outside of his time with us here or on the road with AIM Club, he’s a devoted husband and proud girl dad to three amazing daughters - now grown with little ones of their own. Watching him step into the role of grandfather has been really special too. These days, Chuck is out organizing unforgettable AIM Club rallies across the country. You should only sign up if you’re ready for a great time, unforgettable memories, and a whole lot of fun!”
Steph is so right – Chuck was meant to be a girl dad, and now grandpa to two little grandsons! Despite being on the road and away from his family for like 44 weeks a year (or something insane), it's truly impressive to watch him balance those two roles so well, making sure to fly in or truly be present for whatever event or occasion is happening in his family’s life. For example, after spending hundreds of hours planning NIRVC’s portion of the Tiffin Allegro Club rally in Rock Springs a couple weeks ago, Chuck ended up missing the entire event due to the early birth of his newest grandson. Since then, I’ve watched him juggle his work with pockets of opportunity to run over to the hospital, while beaming with pride over his new grandson. Family really is everything!
After hearing from Heather, and among dozens of pictures coming in, April sent the sweetest text saying, “working with Chuck feels less like working for a boss and more like being part of a family. Traveling together as a group has only strengthened that bond - we’ve shared early mornings, long days, and more than a few laughs along the way. Through it all, Chuck keeps things running smoothly with his signature style: clear expectations, attention to detail, and a calm, kind presence that keeps everyone grounded.”
The next part of her text made me smile because it is just so true: “Yes, Chuck is particular about how things are done - and we’ve all come to respect (and even appreciate) that about him! He has a vision, and he takes pride in doing things the right way. It’s not about being strict; it’s about setting a standard that reflects care, consistency, and professionalism. And somehow, even with high expectations, he manages to always stay respectful, approachable, and genuinely kind.” I have felt this many times over the last year working with him. Yes, we were friends before I joined NIRVC, but he still had to drag the high school teacher along with him and teach me all the things I didn’t even know I didn’t know. And, he’s been a true sport about it!
April finished her text by saying, “Chuck leads with heart, and that’s what makes him so easy to work with. Whether we’re on the road, setting up for a big event, or just grabbing a quick bite between stops, Chuck treats everyone with fairness and patience. He listens, he supports, and he brings out the best in the people around him. There’s something really special about being part of a team that feels like family - and that’s a credit to Chuck. He’s the kind of boss who sets the tone, keeps us on track, and reminds us that we’re all in it together.” I couldn’t agree more as I’ve had so many opportunities to watch his fatherly nature over the last year.
Thankfully, Chuck was out of the office yesterday, which made it easy for Heather (the mom of the AIM Club operation) to ensure that the entire team had input in this. But first, she began the day with a second email ... my favorite one ... because any time there’s a story, I’m in.
Heather’s second email’s subject line was “Addition to Chuck,” and the story went ... “one of my fondest moments is when we decided to do a ‘team building’ activity in Tennessee. I decided on white water rafting, and everyone agreed (very important fact)! When choosing who would sit in the front (besides the guide, the two front people are an important part of keeping on track). Chuck quickly volunteered and then Corey, who mind you has never white water rafted. We were barely down the river, and we hit rapids and a big wave of water came over the boat soaking Chuck and Corey from head to toe! I was laughing so hard, and Chuck turned to me after regaining his composure and said, ‘just know, Heather, that every time I say your name it is now a curse word!’ Needless to say, I heard my name a lot, as an hour and a half trip down the river only took 55 minutes because they had just released a bunch of water from the dam. Lots of rapids with not much rowing, we all had a lot of laughs and tons of fun ... and not one of us got off the raft dry.”
I can picture and even hear all the “HEATHER!” in my mind.
According to Randy, no one was as soaked as Chuck that day. When Heather brought Randy into my office to talk about Chuck, the rafting story was also Randy’s favorite memory of Chuck. Randy is a man of few words, but he told me, “we went white water rafting and Chuck was in the very front of the raft, and he got soaking wet. That water was freezing cold, and we all got wet, but Chuck got soaking wet.” Randy told me they were all laughing for quite some time that day ... poor Chuck.
The other thing Randy told me really spoke volumes. Randy said, “Chuck is a good-hearted boss man.” He sat in my office and reminisced about kayaking and all the meals out to eat. Listening to Randy talk about their adventures together underscored how much of a family this crew really is.
After hanging out with Randy, Dominic came to my office and waited outside until the call I was on ended. I had seen a notification come through that he messaged, and when I was off my call, Dominic was quick to tell me: I need you to fix a typo in my message. I opened the message, and it had the most hilarious typo. Sometimes, autocorrect makes things better, especially with voice to text. LOL! Dominic’s first line read, “Chuck is a fantastic ball store for.” He resent the message three times trying to correct it, then gave up and came to my office saying, “It’s supposed to say ‘Chuck is a fantastic boss to work for!’”
Dominic, I’m so sorry. I had to leave it in. Autocorrect is just too good sometimes! The rest of Dominic’s message read, “Chuck has an uncanny ability to look at issues from all sides and make the right choice. He is compassionate without being a pushover. He leads by example and genuinely cares about the team. He’s receptive to all ideas, and even if they're not used, he will let you know they're appreciated.”
I love that everyone on his team weighed in and they individually all said the exact same things. To me, that is always a measure of a great leader and boss!
Despite having the most hectic travel and personal life schedule over the last couple months, when Angie heard that this week was Chuck’s turn, she texted me early in the morning to say, “I’ve been lucky enough to work with Chuck since he was at Entegra. Way-back-when, we got to work alongside each other at the FESTs (Fun, Entertaining , Social Time rallies that NIRVC partnered with Entegra on). They were the precursor to our AIM Club rallies, but with Chuck at the helm, he stepped them up big time. Chuck’s attention to detail is unmatched. From the upscale resorts, catering, tablecloths, centerpieces, excursions, and seminars - he thinks of everything. He’s a fantastic leader for the AIM Club team and brings so much heart and dedication to everything he does.”
“He’s all in for NIRVC, his team, his family, and everyone he works with. And I’ve gotta say, sharing the mic with Chuck is always a highlight, although I rarely get it! He’s way better at it than I am or anyone for that matter! We couldn’t ask for a better guy to lead the fastest growing RV club.”
AMEN and AMEN!
Bill Reith, our COO whose office is three doors down from Chuck’s, also wanted to make sure he was on the record with his respect and admiration for Chuck. Bill emailed me saying, “Chuck is both an amazing person and employee. He’s not only passionate about his work, but also committed to NIRVC, its vison, and customers. Our rallies and Expo go so darn smooth because of Chuck and his team’s successful planning and execution.”
And then Bill pointed out something I hadn’t really thought about: “Speaking of Chuck’s team, most of them have been with him since the inception of AIM Club which speaks volumes about his leadership. Chuck makes work fun, and his cool, calm, and collective demeanor makes him enjoyable to work with. He has an innate talent for the stage and speaking in front of hundreds of guests at each event. He’s relaxed most of the time, but no doubt we cause him anxiety as we continually challenge him to grow our events year over year.” Bill noted that no matter what is asked of Chuck, “he always delivers and delivers in a big way!” Bill’s last words could not have been more true: “NIRVC is so lucky to have Chuck; he does an incredible job, and I couldn’t imagine having anyone else in his role!”
This afternoon, I got to have my weekly call with Dad to talk about Chuck. Brett began by saying, “I have seven direct reports, which sounds awfully formal to me; because, from an emotional standpoint, somedays it feels like I have seven children, which is a piece of cake because I already have nine on my own. But on other days, it feels like I have seven siblings.”
“As I process through the way I view each of the roles they play, I look at Mark Rocco, our CFO, as the policeman of the company. I look at Bobby Tackett, our Director of Inventory, as the man solely responsible for our checkbook. I look at Josh Davis, our Head of IT, as being responsible for keeping our locomotive maintained and in good working order heading down the track. Then, I look at Janette Church, our Director of Marketing, as being responsible for making sure that the message to our NIRVC family of employees and customers is communicated clearly and understandably.”
“When I look at Chuck Lasley, our Director of Events, as I told him on day one, and have affectionately referred to him hundreds of times since, I view him as our ‘tip of the spear.’ I have told him repeatedly ‘how AIM Club goes, so goes NIRVC’. We are fortunate enough to operate in an industry that is so small, that if we set our minds to it, we can have a personal relationship with everyone who owns a motorhome.”
“So, as the tip of our spear, it is Chuck’s job to create events that achieve two objectives. First, every rally must have something that no coach owner would be able to do on their own. For example, buying out the USS Midway or the San Diego Zoo for the evening, or the Big Sky Ski Resort in Montana for the week ... and so forth. His second objective is to create enough rallies per year, where over the course of the 5 days and 4 nights of each rally, we are able to meet and build relationships with everyone who owns a coach.”
“Chuck has not only achieved both objectives, he has exceeded my expectations in spades. And, the proof is in the pudding: Chuck has not only created the fastest growing motorhome club in the nation; it is now the second largest motorhome club in the nation, second only to the FMCA. And, he has accomplished this feat in a little less than 8 years!”
“But along the road, he has created strong, familial ties with both his team and, more importantly, our AIM Club members, along with countless, unforgettable memories. So yes, Chuck is the ‘tip of our company’s spear.’ It is his job to create the opportunities for us to make and build lasting relationships with coach owners. Through those relationships, it's Angie’s job to sell them a coach and make them a member of our NIRVC family. And, then it is Bill Reith’s responsibility, through his service, to ensure that they remain customers for life. That is how I look at my seven direct reports, children, and siblings.”
“And all of it begins with Chuck, as our ‘tip of the spear.’ No one in the industry does it better than Chuck, which is why I have always said: ‘how AIM Club goes, so goes NIRVC.’ Chuck has been a tremendous blessing to NIRVC and all of his teammates. And, I'm not sure that Chuck has ever really grasped how many jobs (and families they support) he is responsible for. I truly love the man. Dearly!”
www.NIRVC.com
