Ellen Kietzmann
Executive Director at Searchshop Media Network
She grew Blue Ox's dealer network from 100 to 2,500 brand-loyal partners. That's 22 years of earned expertise.
Ellen Kietzmann brings more than 25 years of senior leadership in the RV and outdoor recreation industry. She spent 22 years at Blue Ox — rising from Vice President of Sales & HR to President — where she grew the dealer network from 100 to 2,500 brand-loyal partners, expanded annual RV sector sales by 800%, and earned both the Jim Barker Award and the Chairman Service Award for her lasting contributions to the RV industry. As President, she led strategic planning, market expansion, product partnerships, and a dealer certification and training program that became an industry standard. Following Blue Ox, Ellen served as Chief Operating Officer at Universal Group, Ltd., where she streamlined operations and led agency acquisition initiatives. Her product expertise — built through two decades of dealer training, channel development, and direct manufacturer partnerships — informs every review and buying guide she contributes to.
Awards & Recognition
Career Highlights
- ►Grew Blue Ox's dealer and distributor network from 100 to 2,500 active partners over 12 years
- ►Created the RV industry's first branded dealer certification and training program
- ►Jim Barker Award recipient — the RV industry's top honor for sustained industry contribution
- ►Led Universal Group as COO through strategic acquisitions and operational restructuring
How We Evaluate
- ✓Product specifications, compatibility claims, and performance ratings are verified against manufacturer documentation, service manuals, and category standards
- ✓Verified owner reviews from multiple platforms are analyzed to surface real-world reliability patterns, common failure modes, and use-case fit
- ✓Safety-critical claims — load ratings, electrical specs, recalls — are cross-referenced with manufacturer data and federal safety databases
- ✓Ellen is editorially responsible for every recommendation on this page — whether evaluated through direct use or thorough desk research — and updates picks when new information changes the ranking
Articles by Ellen Kietzmann 56 published
Buying Guides
46 articles
Comparisons
5 articles
How-To & Explainers
5 articles
Founding Reviewer Disclosure
Ellen Kietzmann is a Founding Reviewer of ShopRVGear. ShopRVGear earns affiliate commissions when readers buy through links on this site — this does not influence editorial decisions. All product recommendations are based on firsthand expertise and independent evaluation. See our Editorial Policy for full details.