ABERDEEN - Aberdeen RV is "setting an example among its peers, exhibiting best practices in its industry.

Owned by Chris Brown, Aberdeen RV was recently selected as one of the Top 50 Recreation Vehicle (RV) Dealers in America by RV Business magazine.

Brown traveled to Las Vegas to be recognized, along with the other honorees.

"When they called and told us we got it, I was shocked," Brown said. "We were nominated by one of the manufacturers we carry. It's pretty amazing that a dealer in Aberdeen can compete with bigger cities."

He said people are amazed at the amount of business his company does, located in Aberdeen, basically in the middle of a cotton field. The business, which was formerly on Highway 8 in the Gibson area, moved recently to a new location at 21191 Alternate Highway 45.

"This program is unique in that it doesn't focus solely on sales," said Sherman Goldenberg, RV Business publisher. "We understand what makes a dealership truly great is not just what it does, but how it gets the job done. RVing offers a special brand of life experiences, togetherness and interaction with the world around us, so successful RV traders naturally focus on people over products. Aberdeen RV was selected for its level of outstanding personal customer service, along with sound business practices and forward-thinking philosophies."

The Top 50 RV dealers were recognized at a celebration dinner and reception held during the annual Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association convention in Las Vegas, where awards were presented to the Top 50. The program was set in motion last spring, when RV manufacturers nominated their most worthy dealers to be considered. Dealers then completed an extensive application, asking both quantitative and qualitative questions regarding all aspects of their operations. Those applications were submitted to a five-person judging panel made up of representative from several sectors of the industry.

Goldenberg said it was difficult to narrow it down.

"They ended up with a group they were quite proud of," Goldenberg said, mentioning that the finalists collectively generated approximately $2.1 billion in sales last year and have received hundreds of awards from manufacturers and their local communities.

Brown said his company was "definitely the smallest" of those receiving awards, but "we penetrate our market better than anybody."

"Our customers come from all over," he said, from California to Miami to Canada. "We're literally a destination point in North America. We even have European customers."

His clientele comes by word of mouth and from manufacturer referrals, all of this generated by the hard work and work ethic of his employees. The announcement of the award has also brought a lot of calls.

A few years back, he was visited by someone from Aberdeen, Scotland, who took pictures of their shipping units to Katrina victims, along with care packages with food, toiletries and other items. He said they donated a few campers to Katrina victims, and also sold some to the government. Brown said Aberdeen RV made a practice not to price gouge during that time, and thinks their living by the Golden Rule plays a big part in their success.

"It's a very humbling experience to be recognized in the same group as some of the biggest dealers in the country," Brown said, "some with more people in their metro areas that we have in our state."