At Winnebago Industries, Veterans Day is a moment to reflect, honor and celebrate the individuals whose service to our country continues to inspire excellence across our brands. This year, we spoke with veterans from Grand Design, Newmar and Barletta to learn how their experiences have shaped their lives and careers.
Larry Elzey, EHS coordinator at Grand Design RV
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Larry served four years in the U.S. Navy. Stationed in Adak, Alaska, and Norfolk, Virginia, Larry worked as a signalman and achieved the rank of petty officer third class. After retiring from the Navy, Larry worked as a fireman and police officer before joining Grand Design.
Larry credits his time in service with instilling values that continue to guide his work sharing, “I take accountability for making sure everything gets done. Loyalty and teamwork are key attributes I bring from the military structure.” In addition to his day-to-day role, Larry leads Grand Design’s chapter of Vet Net, Winnebago Industries’ employee resource group (ERG) for veteran employees and their allies, organizing annual luncheons and advocating for veteran connection.
Penny Stafford, maintenance crib administrator at Newmar
Penny, a Navy veteran, served nearly two years on active duty and spent 15 years in the reserves as a dental technician. Today, she runs Newmar’s tool crib and serves as commander of her local American Legion post. Penny says her military experience instilled in her the importance of having a routine and a deep sense of responsibility.
“I still do things I learned at boot camp. I still fold my towels a certain way, and people laugh when you tell them you had to fold your clothes a certain way,” she shares. “It’s about the trust in teams being able to follow instructions.”
Penny emphasizes the importance of recognizing veterans’ sacrifices and encourages others to support veterans. “If you know a veteran, check on them,” she says. “Mental health challenges are not always outward where you can easily recognize them.”
Ron Haas, sub-assembly, and Nate Haas, production lead at Barletta Boats
Ron and Nate, a father-son duo at Barletta, bring a shared legacy of service to their work. Ron served 12 years in the Army, including deployments to Germany, Korea, Vietnam and Spain. Nate spent nearly nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed in Japan, California and Louisiana. Both credit their military backgrounds with shaping their leadership styles and work ethic today.
Ron works in sub-assembly, while Nate is a group lead on the production line. “My time serving taught me a lot of important leadership qualities I carry over at Barletta,” Nate says, “like assessing the situation, reacting calmly and having the ability to guide others to a desired end while considering their opinions and feelings.”
They speak highly of Barletta’s commitment to veterans, both on the brand’s teams and within its customer base. “I’m proud of the kindness, leadership and communication Barletta shows,” Ron shares.
As a token of appreciation for every veteran behind the helm, every new Barletta owner who has served our nation receives a gift box — hand-packed by a fellow veteran who works at Barletta. Every detail inside is chosen with purpose, designed to honor their service to our country. Nate seconded his father’s sentiment: “I’ve never been with a company that does more outreach to veterans. It’s heartwarming.”
A culture of respect and gratitude
With hundreds of veterans employed at the company and ____ members in the Vet Net ERG, Winnebago Industries is proud to empower veterans to lead, mentor and bring values they learned during their time of service into every aspect of their work. Their stories reflect resilience, camaraderie and a commitment to relentless excellence that continues to inspire our teams.
As we celebrate Veterans Day, we extend our deepest gratitude to all who have served and continue to serve.