Chuck's Bio

Chuck Marzahn

Chuck Marzahn has spent 50 years working in and on dealership management, building a career that has spanned retail operations, wholesale representation, fixed operations, dealer management systems, facility planning, management consulting, education, writing, and dealer 20 Groups.

His perspective was shaped by 13 years in dealership retail operations and six years on the wholesale side as a representative for Toyota. That combination gave him experience with the RV business from both sides of the dealer-manufacturer relationship before he moved more deeply into consulting, training, and dealership process improvement.

Over the course of his consulting career, Chuck has worked with dealers in all 50 states and most Canadian provinces. He has consulted on more than 100 dealership facility layouts and building projects and has authored more than 100 industry articles and columns. His work has focused especially on three areas: fixed operations, dealership facility design, and management education.

Fixed Operations and Dealer Process Improvement

A significant portion of Chuck’s pioneering work has been in dealership fixed operations.

While with Integrated Dealer Systems (IDS), Chuck was chosen to establish the company’s professional services operation, creating a structured approach to post-implementation consulting, training, and dealer process improvement. Established more than 25 years ago, that professional services function continues today as part of IDS.

Drawing on that experience, Chuck developed new workflows within the industry’s leading dealer management systems and helped redefine how repair orders moved through an RV dealership. His work focused on improving the flow of work through the service department, strengthening accountability, reducing bottlenecks, and improving communication with customers throughout the repair process.

Throughout his career, Chuck has also been a strong advocate for exceptional customer care and communication. He has consistently emphasized that efficient systems, sound processes, and strong customer relationships are inseparable parts of successful fixed operations.

Dealership Facility Planning and Design

Chuck’s facility-planning work grew from concepts pioneered by Bill Gorman, an RV/MH Hall of Fame member and one of the industry’s early leaders in dealership planning.

Building on those foundational ideas, Chuck developed and refined dealership layouts designed around the practical flow of dealership operations, including sales, service, parts, administration, customer traffic, and vehicle movement.

In 1995, Chuck became President of Gorman Planning, where he expanded on Bill Gorman’s pioneering concepts while consulting on dealership layouts, expansions, relocations, and building projects throughout North America. Over his career, Chuck has contributed to more than 100 such projects, developing and refining facility-planning concepts that continue to serve RV dealers today. At one point Chuck’s book on RV dealership facility planning was RVDA’s best-selling resource.

Management Consulting and Dealer Education

In 2003, Chuck and Tom King formed Marzahn & King Consulting. During the firm’s successful 17-year run, they provided management consulting, training, 20 Group facilitation, and operational guidance to RV dealerships across North America.

When Marzahn & King Consulting closed in 2021, Chuck continued his industry work by concentrating on virtual dealer 20 Groups.

Education and the sharing of industry knowledge have been consistent themes throughout Chuck’s career. He has been invited to speak at manufacturer dealer meetings, state and national trade association events, conventions, and dealer educational programs.

For more than 20 consecutive years, Chuck presented educational programs for the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association.

His presentations have also included programs for the Oklahoma Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association, Pennsylvania Recreational Vehicle & Camping Association, Oregon Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association, Atlantic Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association in Canada, Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Manitoba, Hershey Dealer Days, Jayco, Damon Corporation, Fleetwood.