Marks Qualifications

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Mark Polk is a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer Three, specializing in wheeled and track vehicle fleet maintenance operations. In addition to owning and operating RV Education 101 since 1999, Mark also has a very extensive RV background working in RV sales, service and management. Mark has a degree in Industrial Management Technology and his 30 plus years of experience in maintenance includes working as an RV technician, a wheeled vehicle and power generation mechanic, an automotive maintenance technician, Battalion and Brigade level Maintenance Officer, an RV sales manager and also in the RV financing department as the Finance & Insurance manager......read more Mark J. Polk was introduced to RV’s in the early 70’s. His friend’s father was the General Manager for an RV dealership and would take them camping all of the time. Before long he was working for the dealership washing RV’s, and soon after that he was working as an apprentice RV technician.

Not long after graduating from high school Mark joined the Army and was a wheeled vehicle and power generation mechanic. 5+ years later he graduated from warrant officer school as an automotive maintenance technician and was in charge of some very large maintenance operations throughout his career. He retired from the Army in 1996 as a Chief Warrant Officer Three.

Chief Warrant Officer Three Mark Polk was awarded a first place maintenance award from General Shelton. General Shelton later became the 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and served two 2-year terms under both President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush.

At the time of this award, CW3 Mark Polk was responsible for providing technical guidance and implementing policies to ensure responsive repair and maintenance support for over 420 assigned major equipment items valued in excess of 13 million dollars. Under Marks technical supervision and guidance, Mark established the standard in his brigade for maintenance excellence by winning first place in the Chief of Staff Army Maintenance Excellence Competition in 1995.

Mark was honored to have worked under, and receive this award from General Shelton, as General Shelton was given the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award the United States Congress can bestow. General Shelton has been internationally recognized for his public service and, in 2001, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

After retiring from the Army, Mark got back into the industry that he had a passion for. He started out selling RVs for a dealership in North Carolina and was soon promoted to the sales and F&I manager. Polk was concerned about the lack of education and awareness for the RV consumer and while still working for the dealership, started his own company, RV EDUCATION 101 in November 1999, until he could devote his full attention to RV EDUCATION 101 in 2000.

Mark is a published author of 3 RV books. His best selling book titled "The RV Book" has sold in excess of 47,000 copies since 2006. He has written monthly articles for RV newsletters to include:

RV Education 101 newsletter
RV University This Week
KOA Kompass Newsletter
RVTV Newsletter
Poulsbo RV Newsletter
RV Family Circle of Trust Newsletter
Camping World Newsletter
RV Travel newsletter
FMCA
RV(dot)net

RV consumer and trade publications Mark has written for:

RV News
RV Business
RV Companion
Pop-Up Times
RV Free Wheelin’
Trail Blazer
RV Pro
RVers Corner Newsletter
Happy Camper Newsletter
Campers Choice Newsletter
Bella RV Newsletter

Mark conducts seminars at RV Industry Shows and RV Retail shows.
Mark has provided RVTV with 5 seasons of his “RV SAVVY” segments, airing on the Outdoor Channel and currently on the R&R TV Channel.
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