Heartland Family and Friends:
One thing I know for sure is things change. But that is not always bad. In fact, often times it's good. I have been asked so many times recently about what I am going to be doing that I decided to simply jot it down for anyone who is interested. Yes, I have resigned from Heartland. No, there is nothing “wrong”. Heartland is doing so well in the marketplace that if I were a smart man, I would stick around and maximize my investment. But those of you who know me best understand I have other motivations in life. It is simply time for me to move on to the next thing in life for me and it is something that, like Heartland, I am very passionate about. Before I ever tried to convince Tim Hoffman that we had what it takes to start our own RV company, I was working on a project that was near and dear to my heart. It involved training men and women in life skills so that they would be better equipped to get a good paying job and get off of government assistance – and not have to rely solely on others for their well being. It is a project that did not come to fruition because I simply did not have the resources to make it happen. Today I am in a better situation to do this and it is time to put feet to the plan and get it moving. <O
</OI am going to be working to organize a lot of individuals; faith-based and other organizations and resources to launch the Elkhart County Life Center. <ST1The ECLC’s mission is to train and equip men and women in job skills; life skills and Biblical principles and values so that when they do get that good paying job they always dreamed of, they can keep it and excel at it as well as in life. The poverty rate in our community continues to grow, as does the number of broken families as a result of this poverty. You may not know this, but in the inner-city, the divorce rate and percentage of single moms raising children is approaching 85%. And statistics show that in all divorces and family break ups – money is the number one issue or problem that was identified. There is an opportunity here. I have seen in the RV industry, as well as others, that many inner city adults have little or no chance at getting the nice paying jobs because they have no experience and there isn’t enough incentive for busy RV companies to take the time to train them. As a result, we often end up with a smaller labor pool to draw from and with a good percentage of employees that will jump jobs at the drop of a hat. But they continue to get hired, because they have “experience”. At the same time we could have someone who would give their left arm for an opportunity to work in one of our factories – if they only got the chance. During the next season of my life, I am going to gather people together who have a heart to train young men and women, in everything from RV construction to engine repairs; plumbing and heating; audio/video technologies; computer keyboarding and data entry; etc. We are going to give them job training and life skills/principles. In the end, we hope to provide them with opportunities that they would otherwise not have had. It has been my experience that there are lots of people in the work force who feel blessed by the opportunities they have enjoyed and are ready to “give back” a little by helping give some one in need a hand “up” – not a hand out.<O</OBesides the Life Center, I am going to be spending more (much needed) time with my wife and kids; doing some coaching down at NorthWood high school (go Panthers!) and will also be spending some time trying to get my other company, Livin’ Lite RV (which I started the year before we started Heartland) into a better position to succeed in the RV marketplace.<O
</OSo – as you can see – my life is going to continue to be full- it will just not be centered around Heartland like it has been for the last five years. The thing I appreciate the most about this place is the people that I have met and built relationships with at Heartland and our customers. I have a whole new circle of friends that I hope will continue to be friends for the rest of my life.<O
</OUntil I see you next, - be blessed – and be a blessing to someone else!
Your Friend,
Scott Tuttle
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