Innovation
Brings Immediate Success to MaxxAir Vent
Corporation
Allen Thomas
An Engineer with an
Entrepreneurial Aptitude
by Don Magary
Allen C. Thomas,
President, MaxxAir Vent Corp.
Fate
seems to have played an important role in Allen
Thomas’ journey that eventually lead him to
the RV industry and founding MaxxAir Vent
Corporation. As doors opened, Thomas willingly
passed through. And while fate may have opened
doors it was Thomas’ talent and business
savvy that turned opportunity into success.
The
best way to describe MaxxAir is to say its in the
air moving business -- RV ventilation. The
original MaxxAir product was a louvered vent cap
cover, but from that has grown several related
products. The TurboMaxx incorporates a 12-volt
fan in the system and the Solar/Maxx uses solar
panels to power the ventilation fan. Other
products include the Window/ Maxx which allows
ventilation without fear of water getting inside
sliding windows during rain storms. And last
year, MaxxAir introduced the Tuff /Maxx, which is
a replacement cover for Coleman roof top air
conditioners.
RV
News has watched MaxxAir evolve in recent years
and decided it was time to tell MaxxAir’s
story to our readers. Last month we visited
MaxxAir at its headquarters in Tampa, FL, and
talked with Thomas and his right-hand person,
Judy Ingram, materials manager.
Thomas
is unusual in that he is an engineer with an
entrepreneurial aptitude — ingredients that
have served others in the RV industry well.
Thomas’
entry into the RV industry was sort of through
the back door, but the road that lead him to that
door was filled with interesting wayside stops.
He
grew up in a suburb of Detroit, MI, and went to
college at Michigan State. Thomas said, “My
Dad had a tool and die business which he started
in the basement of our home. I grew up with a
machine shop in my basement so I was sweeping
chips and learning how to run a bandsaw when I
was ten years old. It became second nature to me
to make things. That has always been a big help
to me; but it was kind of a problem too. It was
all very practical experience. I could see how
machines worked and knew how to read prints and
learned how to make things. But when I went to
college back in 1960 to major in mechanical
engineering, it left me cold - college was all
theory; it was just not my
‘cup-of-tea.’ ”
Thomas
lost interest and turned to other activities. He
continued, “I was playing electric guitar
with some friends and we started a band, playing
fraternity parties. Then we started playing four
nights a week at a bar and our band did real
well. That didn't help my studies to say the
least. But nonetheless, I graduated. Since I
intended to return home and work for my Dad, I
didn’t bother interviewing with any of the
companies that were recruiting — big
mistake! Continued
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