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Debra Riles Williams
MS Agent

September 22, 2023

Start Date

March 9, 2015

Position(s) held at CWH

Extend Service Plan Representative, Retail Sales at Gander Outdoors, Inbound Member Services

What brand(s) do you work for? Check all that apply. Camping World, Good Sam What is your favorite thing about your job and why? Educating members and making them aware of all the products Good Sam offers to the recreationist. What made you interested in working in the outdoor recreation industry? I, myself, enjoy camping and the outdoors. How has Camping World Holdings helped you succeed as a woman in the workplace? How is this different than other companies you have worked at? Good Sam helped me become a better listener, which allowed me to offer the best products. This is different than any other company I have worked for because it is totally geared to members who travel for work or business and enjoy outdoor activities. What advice would you offer other women who are interested in a career at a Camping World Holdings brand? I would advise women to take the plunge into RV sales and any other opportunity with Camping World/Good Sam even if the knowledge of the environment is unfamiliar. What destination do you hope to visit one day? Hawaii

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Rico Pena

Dealership General Manager

What brand(s) do you work for? Camping World What first attracted you to this company? Having dedicated over two decades to the field of automotive sales and management, the RV industry had always piqued my interest. What do you find fulfilling about working here? I thrive in the fast-paced environment, and what truly resonates with me is the opportunity to assist individuals throughout their RV purchasing journey. The satisfaction of helping someone find their perfect RV is gratifying to me. What are some of your biggest motivators at work? It stems from the satisfaction of helping customers achieve their goals and fulfill their dreams. Equally important to me is ensuring the happiness and well-being of the staff as they work towards creating a prosperous livelihood to support their families. What makes Camping World & Good Sam unique or different from others’ you have worked for?Working for Camping World is a unique experience. The leadership genuinely cares about the well-being of their employees and prioritizes delivering an exceptional customer experience. Witnessing this level of commitment in action on a daily basis is truly refreshing. It's not just empty words — it's a tangible reality reinforcing my belief in the company and its values.What compels you to stay?Despite the challenges and rapid changes within the industry, working in this environment is satisfying. The strong sense of camaraderie among our team members makes it feel like a second family. These factors have fueled my desire to stay and eagerly explore the potential that lies ahead within this company. I am excited to see what the future holds for me here.What animal do you believe most closely matches your personality and why?Based on my qualities of being watchful, eager to help, and protective of others—I see myself as a guardian animal, such as a guard dog or wolf. Both of these animals are known for their strong sense of responsibility and dedication to safeguarding their pack or families.

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Colleen Perry

Market Manager

What brand(s) do you work for? Camping World What other teams do you work with the most? Every department is crucial to the overall success of the store. I see all of us working as one cohesive team. None more important to the other. We need each other to be successful.I love spending time in the sales tower and find as much happiness in the service department at the operations desk. Detail and accounting are equally important to me. I think that it is critical for all departments to know how important they are to the success of the whole team. What is your favorite thing about your job and why? I love my job. Everyday I get a new opportunity to work in a place that I love. We have our challenges, of course. I think that turning the unhappy customers or bad situations into a win are key to growing as a company and a store. I am also allowed to run my location and put my own personal touch on it. The people are really the best part. I get to really influence and participate with all of the employees in this location. I read an article about different styles of leadership. There were a few but the one that struck me was lead with love. That doesn't mean that we have dinner and spend time with each other but you love and care about the whole person. You understand that they are here doing their job to provide for the life they have outside of the building. I feel that leading in this way has allowed me to earn the trust and respect of my team. It also allows me to lead them because they know I have their best interest at heart. This also translates into working with our customers. I feel the same way about them. Without customers where are we? I think it's crucial to own your mistakes and take the time to work in the customers best interest. This is a fun business. We sell hopes and dreams, memories that will last forever. The opportunity to interact with the customers is very special. They are about to embark on an adventure that some of them have spent their whole life planning. I think it's important to be a good steward of making their dream come true. We started something recently here that i really enjoy. We made some t shirts in kid sizes that say "Cool Kids Camp" Inviting the kids into that special delivery day and giving them something to take away with them is fun. I remind them to wear their special camping shirt when they camp and parents tag us on social media. It's not always easy in a day to day aspect but it is worth it at the end of the day. What made you interested in working in the outdoor recreation industry? I honestly didn't know much about the outdoor recreation industry when I started with the company. I knew that the people that I had met in the recruiting process were smart and genuine. That was all I needed to see to decide to join the company. How has Camping World Holdings helped you succeed as a woman in the workplace? How is this different than other companies you have worked at? Camping World is a great company for women to work for. They don't see gender as an obstacle or roadblock to your success. You are judged on your merit and talent rather than your gender. I can truthfully say that had I not taken this opportunity with Camping World I would never have been given the opportunity or support and mentor-ship at any other employer. They allow you to have access to many parts of the enterprise, not just your individual location.

I remember when I had only been with the company a short time and my regional finance manager called me. He said he wasn't really calling for anything important, just to say that he appreciates me. I will never forget the way that made me feel. I had never in my career had someone say that they appreciate me. I will carry that feeling forward and spread that message for the rest of my career. What advice would you offer other women who are interested in a career at a Camping World Holdings brand? I would say to run don't walk to our Camping World careers site. We offer so many opportunities in this company, too many to list here. The true spirit of being appreciated for who you are is evident from the top of the company. That appreciation bleeds down into every other level. Take a chance on yourself and see where this company can take you.

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Marlene Meier

Tax Manager - Indirect Taxes

What brand(s) do you work for? Camping World What other teams do you work with the most? Tax Department works closely with the Accounting Team, Legal Services and IT Tech Team for implementation projects. What is your favorite thing about your job and why? I have an amazing mentor/manager that is very helpful in many ways. I have several projects on going but the collaboration as a team and other departments is amazing. We work together to get the goals met on time. The culture is great! We still keep a great Work-Life-Balance given the multiple projects we are to meet. Very understanding and Communication is on point with our team and company. This makes work welcoming and manageable. What made you interested in working in the outdoor recreation industry? It was a new industry for me to learn and understand as a Tax Senior and with the business booming why not! New Opportunity for me to continue to grow. How has Camping World Holdings helped you succeed as a woman in the workplace? How is this different than other companies you have worked at? Trust and Confidence given to take on new and exciting projects has gained my confidence in many work areas. Here I have seen projects develop from the start to the end. Helped me understand the full picture at the end. In my prior experience it was handed to me right in the middle of the project with little understanding of what the end scope will be. What advice would you give to someone applying to a job at Camping World? Research and understand the business and the position you are applying for. What can you bring to the team? Can you go above and beyond without being asked to? Come prepared to also interview the company and managers interviewing you. Will this be a fit for you? Know the day to day tasks involved, ask what type of projects would be expected of you to perform with.

Camping World continues to grow, and several projects are always around the corner so be prepared how you can make the next impact to the team and company. It's a amazing company to part of - Good Luck!

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