The vision of our company is to provide clients in the outdoor
hospitality industry with world-class consulting services,
products, research, and information in a manner that assures
100% client satisfaction all of the time.
DGA associates have extensive experience in their specific
areas of expertise. Depending on the details of each assignment,
individual consultants or a team of experts carry out each
project assignment and are selected to meet the specific needs
of the client.
Total client satisfaction is essential to our success. We strive
for nothing less than completing each assignment with the
highest levels of professional expertise, on time and within
budget. We provide only the most professional and expert
services available anywhere.
Our People
David
Gorin
is the firm’s principal and founder. David Gorin & Associates
was established in 2002, after David stepped down as President &
CEO of the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds, an
association which thrived and grew under his leadership for 14
years. During that time, he became a leading expert on the RV
park and campground business, speaking widely before park owner
audiences and regularly contributing articles to industry
publications. He consulted with hundreds of park owners and
aspiring owners and developers on issues from A to Z – from
accessibility to zoning and just about everything in between. He
founded the National School of RV Park & Campground Management,
Outdoor Hospitality magazine and the leading industry consumer
Internet site, GoCampingAmerica.com. David established Best
Parks in America in 2004, a national brand for highly-rated RV
parks and campgrounds, and is the co-owner of Holiday Cove RV
Resort in Florida.
David Gorin can be reached at (703) 448 6863 or
to contact him via e-mail.
Donald
C. Westphal, Strategic Partner, has 40 years of experience in
site planning, zoning, landscape and image design services
locally and nationally. To ensure the success of each project,
we collaborate with a team of qualified professionals such as
David Gorin who provides extensive feasibility and business
planning in all aspects of RV park and campground development
and business models, local engineers, architects, environmental
consultants and land surveyors. Don Westphal is a leader in
campground and RV resort design, while also continuing to
provide manufactured housing community design, and everything
from single family subdivision design, community imaging, to
marketing and presentation production. Finally, Don has
considerable experience in presenting plans on behalf of our
clients to various organizations such as local planning
commissions, councils and boards, citizens groups, state federal
regulatory agencies.
Don can be reached directly at (248) 651-5518 or by e-mail at
don@dcwestphal.com.
Scott
Ellison, Senior Associate, began his career in the RV
industry in 1983 managing resorts for Thousand Trails Inc., the
largest private membership camping network in America. Scott was
involved with start up and ongoing management of a 300 site park
in North Carolina and 800 site multi million dollar facility
outside Orlando, FL. In 1990, Scott worked for Coast to Coast
Resorts, the world’s largest reciprocal camping network as a
regional director working with 130 independent developers of
private membership camping resorts. Emphasis was placed on
maximizing resort revenues, profitability and customer loyalty
through new products, services and staff training. Scott served
in various management, administration and operations capacities
for the company from 1992-2006. Duties included Director of
Member Services, Director of Business Development, Vice
President of the International Business Group and Interim
President responsible for a $16 million budget. Scott brings
industry experience ranging from Management and Operations,
Sales Development & Training, B2B Marketing, to Product
Development, Marketing & Lead Generation as well as developing
Strategic Alliances.
Douglas
Campbell, AIA, is Senior Consulting Architect. Doug has over
20 years of experience in the design and execution of complex
building types ranging from campgrounds and RV parks, aquatic
and recreational facilities to multi-unit living facilities. As
a LEED Accredited Professional, Doug has pursued his interest in
environmental design as a member of the AIA Committee on the
Environment. He is registered in both Maryland and Virginia. He
holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from the
University of Virginia as well as a Master of Architecture
degree from the University of Michigan. As necessary, and based
on each project requirement, Doug rounds out the DGA team and
provides our clients with high quality professional park and
building layout, design and architecture. Doug has designed RV
parks, campgrounds and other recreational facilities and
accessory structures throughout the United States, most recently
in North Carolina, Oklahoma, New York and Colorado.
Jack
May, CFP, is a partner in the financial management firm of
Lara, Shull & May, and provides David Gorin & Associates clients
with highly specialized business, tax, estate and retirement
financial planning that may be required as part of a
development, acquisition, investment or exit strategy in the
park industry. Jack has served on the faculty at the School of
RV Park & Campground Management, taught seminars at state
association meetings, and written articles for the ARVC Report
and for Outdoor Hospitality magazine. A graduate of Duke
University with a Bachelor of Science degree, Jack entered the
financial planning business in 1979. He received his Certified
Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 1982. Jack taught the CFP
course at George Washington University for 10 years and has been
on the adjunct faculty of both G.W. University and the College
for Financial Planning. He is past chairman of the Northern
Virginia Society of the Institute of Certified Financial
Planners (NVICFP) and of the Greater Merrifield Business
Association.
Tom
Ricks, Senior Associate, established Family Recreation, Inc.
in 1972 and developed and built a 214-site family RV resort and
a catering business specializing in group picnics and recreation
events. In 1981, he sold the park to Ahnert Enterprises and
joined that company to help found Outdoor World Corporation, now
a 16-unit chain of membership RV resorts. He was the Vice
President of RV Resort Operations of Outdoor World until until
his retirement in 1999. Tom had responsibility for 615 employees
and an $18 million budget. Over the years, he has been hands-on
involved with every aspect of a park business - ground up
development, reservation systems, acquisition of park models and
cabins, marina operations, utilities, personnel, zoning and
local regulation and more. Tom has a Bachelor’s Degree in
Business Administration from Lehigh University and completed a
senior executive program at Duke University Graduate School of
Business.
Tom Ricks can be reached directly at (610) 217 3125 or by e-mail
at tricks@rcn.com.
David
Gorin
is the firm’s principal and founder. David Gorin & Associates
was established in 2002, after David stepped down as President &
CEO of the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds, an
association which thrived and grew under his leadership for 14
years. During that time, he became a leading expert on the RV
park and campground business, speaking widely before park owner
audiences and regularly contributing articles to industry
publications. He consulted with hundreds of park owners and
aspiring owners and developers on issues from A to Z – from
accessibility to zoning and just about everything in between. He
founded the National School of RV Park & Campground Management,
Outdoor Hospitality magazine and the leading industry consumer
Internet site, GoCampingAmerica.com. David established Best
Parks in America in 2004, a national brand for highly-rated RV
parks and campgrounds, and is the co-owner of Holiday Cove RV
Resort in Florida.
Donald
C. Westphal, Strategic Partner, has 40 years of experience in
site planning, zoning, landscape and image design services
locally and nationally. To ensure the success of each project,
we collaborate with a team of qualified professionals such as
David Gorin who provides extensive feasibility and business
planning in all aspects of RV park and campground development
and business models, local engineers, architects, environmental
consultants and land surveyors. Don Westphal is a leader in
campground and RV resort design, while also continuing to
provide manufactured housing community design, and everything
from single family subdivision design, community imaging, to
marketing and presentation production. Finally, Don has
considerable experience in presenting plans on behalf of our
clients to various organizations such as local planning
commissions, councils and boards, citizens groups, state federal
regulatory agencies.
Scott
Ellison, Senior Associate, began his career in the RV
industry in 1983 managing resorts for Thousand Trails Inc., the
largest private membership camping network in America. Scott was
involved with start up and ongoing management of a 300 site park
in North Carolina and 800 site multi million dollar facility
outside Orlando, FL. In 1990, Scott worked for Coast to Coast
Resorts, the world’s largest reciprocal camping network as a
regional director working with 130 independent developers of
private membership camping resorts. Emphasis was placed on
maximizing resort revenues, profitability and customer loyalty
through new products, services and staff training. Scott served
in various management, administration and operations capacities
for the company from 1992-2006. Duties included Director of
Member Services, Director of Business Development, Vice
President of the International Business Group and Interim
President responsible for a $16 million budget. Scott brings
industry experience ranging from Management and Operations,
Sales Development & Training, B2B Marketing, to Product
Development, Marketing & Lead Generation as well as developing
Strategic Alliances.
Douglas
Campbell, AIA, is Senior Consulting Architect. Doug has over
20 years of experience in the design and execution of complex
building types ranging from campgrounds and RV parks, aquatic
and recreational facilities to multi-unit living facilities. As
a LEED Accredited Professional, Doug has pursued his interest in
environmental design as a member of the AIA Committee on the
Environment. He is registered in both Maryland and Virginia. He
holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from the
University of Virginia as well as a Master of Architecture
degree from the University of Michigan. As necessary, and based
on each project requirement, Doug rounds out the DGA team and
provides our clients with high quality professional park and
building layout, design and architecture. Doug has designed RV
parks, campgrounds and other recreational facilities and
accessory structures throughout the United States, most recently
in North Carolina, Oklahoma, New York and Colorado.
Jack
May, CFP, is a partner in the financial management firm of
Lara, Shull & May, and provides David Gorin & Associates clients
with highly specialized business, tax, estate and retirement
financial planning that may be required as part of a
development, acquisition, investment or exit strategy in the
park industry. Jack has served on the faculty at the School of
RV Park & Campground Management, taught seminars at state
association meetings, and written articles for the ARVC Report
and for Outdoor Hospitality magazine. A graduate of Duke
University with a Bachelor of Science degree, Jack entered the
financial planning business in 1979. He received his Certified
Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 1982. Jack taught the CFP
course at George Washington University for 10 years and has been
on the adjunct faculty of both G.W. University and the College
for Financial Planning. He is past chairman of the Northern
Virginia Society of the Institute of Certified Financial
Planners (NVICFP) and of the Greater Merrifield Business
Association.
Tom
Ricks, Senior Associate, established Family Recreation, Inc.
in 1972 and developed and built a 214-site family RV resort and
a catering business specializing in group picnics and recreation
events. In 1981, he sold the park to Ahnert Enterprises and
joined that company to help found Outdoor World Corporation, now
a 16-unit chain of membership RV resorts. He was the Vice
President of RV Resort Operations of Outdoor World until until
his retirement in 1999. Tom had responsibility for 615 employees
and an $18 million budget. Over the years, he has been hands-on
involved with every aspect of a park business - ground up
development, reservation systems, acquisition of park models and
cabins, marina operations, utilities, personnel, zoning and
local regulation and more. Tom has a Bachelor’s Degree in
Business Administration from Lehigh University and completed a
senior executive program at Duke University Graduate School of
Business.
