About - Passions
Johnny Sirpilla
PASSIONS
Encourage, LLC was founded by Johnny Sirpilla based on the principle that inspiring others can lead to a positive impact on the world. Encourage pursues equity investments & provides enlightening consulting to drive meaningful and lasting change at work and at home.
Personal Branding
Brands develop through significant marketing and strategic planning. Your personal brand deserves the same conscious planning, intentionality, and focused foresight to present yourself personally and professionally.
adoption
The blessing of adoption is life changing in the most beautiful way. The selfless act of realizing that a baby’s needs rise above the emotion of one of life’s toughest decisions is the first step a mother takes to truly love her child. Our lives have been transformed by the gift of adoption… a topic that needs more dialogue.
storytelling
Great power is found in seeking to understand the journey of another that produces life changing effects. We learn a beautiful life lesson in humility and the need for connectedness to share wisdom as we walk through this earthly experience.
Consulting
Enlightening consulting to drive meaningful change at work and home spotlights the connection and overlap our personal and professional selves have. A 360 degree view to impact change with a continuous improvement foundation that is rooted in honest and respectful dialogue on real topics is the driver for thoughtful consulting.
John A. Sirpilla is a 1988 graduate of Miami University with a degree in Accounting and a special interest in Psychology and Finance, a 2000 graduate of the University of Phoenix with a master’s degree in Organizational Management, and holds a certification in Executive Presence and Influence: Persuasive Leadership Development from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.
In 1992, Johnny became President of Sirpilla R.V. Center, Inc.. Within a few years, he was recognized out of more than 3,000 dealers as the National RV Dealer of the Year for best overall run dealership in the country. In 2003, Johnny was one of the initial acquisitions by Camping World and sold his family business to become part of the executive team to attempt the first RV dealership roll up plan in the industry’s history.
Johnny served as President of Camping World, a 140-store nationwide retail chain serving the RV industry and was promoted in 2012 to Chief Business Development Officer for the parent company, Camping World and Good Sam with annual sales of nearly $4 billion. Over the 14 years at Camping World, he had responsibility over dealership operations, new store acquisitions and new location market selection and construction. Additionally, his teams oversaw Dealership Operations, Call Center Operations, Buying & Merchandising, Parts and Accessories Inventory, Distribution Center Supply Chain, Wholesale Distribution and acquisitions relating to product development and distribution. In addition to this role, he was also President of National RV Supply, a wholesale distribution business serving thousands of RV dealers across the country and Canada. Johnny retired from Camping World in 2017 after a successful IPO.
His company, Encourage LLC, has various holdings in industries including leadership development, population health management, employee benefits, medical device innovation, e-commerce roll up, executive leadership and consulting, fashion and interior design, senior living communities, and has become an international best-selling author with his book, Life Is Hard but I’ll Be OK.
He is also involved in residential and commercial development projects in Ohio and Chicago, Illinois including office, retail, event space and investments in SIP a world class spirit brands creator known for such brands as Angels Envy, Rare Hare, StolenX, and Heaven’s Door with musician, Bob Dylan.
Johnny speaks professionally to businesses, communities, and universities on the importance of managing thoughts, internal honest reflection to develop meaningful professional and personal relationships, and re-framing each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-development and growth. Addressing college students and young professionals to discover the power they have to develop their personal brand is a personal passion and target audience for Johnny. Johnny enjoys board leadership in public, private and volunteer capacities. He serves publicly traded Lippert Components (LCII), Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame Health, TecTraum Medical, Braintrust, Society Brands, Aultman Health Foundation, The Metabolic Code, and is past Chairman of the Board for the Stark County Catholic Schools.
Johnny has served as the Chairman of the Board for the United Way of Greater Stark County. He was on the task force to create the New United Way in which he served as the chairman for the campaign and finance committees and consolidated three area agencies. He served as the United Way Campaign Chairman and is the past chair of the Allocations Council for United Way. He is a member at St. Michael’s Catholic Church where he has been a Youth Minister for the Life Teen Ministry, Chaired the 2014 capital campaign, and has been a member of a small faith community for over 25 years. He also served on the board for Quest Recovery Services, Mt. Union College Advisory Board, and many other civic and charity organizations. Johnny received the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Johnny has been married to his college sweetheart, Susan for over 30 years, and they reside in Canton, Ohio and Naples, Florida. They have three grown children, Beau, Bella, and Stone who all reside in downtown Chicago, Illinois.