Another project that is taking a high priority is creating a better manufacturing facility. Prinz explained, "This building was built in 1963 and is very poorly laid out and very poorly maintained over the years. It's a terrible facility, but at the same time, we try to keep it clean and neat. Dick and I are committed to building a new plant, probably in the next year."

With all the demands of management and having to solve problems such as the new building, Prinz never forgets that it is ultimately people who will make Barth successful. And he is building a team of people who he believes are committed to that success. "One of the things I have learned and I learned it while at Fleetwood from John Crean, Fleetwood's founder. He said: Surround yourself with good people; it makes your job a hell of a lot easier. And that's what I've done. I have a lot of good people here.

"We're up to almost 100 people and they do a good job for us. The former head engineer from Rockwood and the former CFO from Rockwood are part of our team, and I just hired an ex-Fleetwood employee as my production manager. He was at Fleetwood for 11 or 12 years and ran the Class A plant in California for part of that time."

It's been a challenging three years for Prinz, but if it has taken its toll you cannot tell that from looking at him. And even though he turned 50 earlier this year he still exhibits a youthful enthusiasm.

"I'm ecstatic to be here," Prinz said. "We went through some trials getting to the point where we are, but I'm holding up well and the company is coming out of it. The future looks very bright for us. And it has certainly been a learning experience. The perspective you get is a little different when you're sitting in this chair and all the money is basically yours that's on the line or a partner's that has put a lot of confidence in you. I also believe that my experiences at Fleetwood were great learning experiences for me that have helped me here."

In an era when the industry is changing and the people running companies seem to be more ruthless when it comes to business, it's refreshing to know that there are still people involved in the industry who subscribe to a personal code of ethics and integrity. Prinz is one of those.

"If I tell the people that I'm going to do something, I do it," he said. "If I tell them I'm not going to do something, they can pretty well figure that I'm not going to do it. And that's the way I do business. I'm straight with people; I'm straight with the dealers, with the suppliers, and with the people that work for me in the plant. I've been that way since I started and I will be that way when I finish."

Add to that a cooperative spirit when it comes to working with customers to give them what they expect, you have the basis for Prinz's business philosophy. He said, "I want the company to be known and respected for its integrity, and that philosophy will be reflected throughout the company. And yes, we have quality problems from time to time. One of my trolley customers who runs a big fleet of vehicles for a tour company in the Los Angeles area had a major problem recently and came back here to get the problem resolved. At the end of his visit he said, 'You know, I came back here with this problem and talked with your people. I want to tell you, what I appreciate most about your people is not one of them said we can't do this, or we won't do that; all of them said we will figure out how to correct this situation and make it better and give you the product that you're supposed to have.'

"And that's the way it ought to be."

Barth's road to recovery is in capable hands, and Prinz seems to have the company on track for even more successes in the future. He said, "My goal right now is to level out the peaks and the valleys with the company. In five years I want Barth to be a $50 million a year company. However, that $50 million is not going to come from one or two products; that $50 million may come from seven or eight products that each do $6 or $7 million a year."

So Barth may not be the typical manufacturer in the RV industry because when you walk down the production line, you are apt to see old time cable car trolleys intermixed with state-of-the-art luxury class motor-homes. And who knows what other kinds of unique vehicles may be rolling off the production line in the future. Barth is a company that is determined to find innovative ways to meet a potential customer's needs.

"Yes," Prinz said, "we are willing to do anything a customer may want. If it can be done on wheels, we can do it."

Barth RSV, Inc.
S.R. 15 South
P.O. Box 737
Milford, IN 46542
Phone: 219-658-9401
Fax: 219-658-4161

RVN