By 1976, Duane Spader’s growing reputation had him speaking in front of the entire RV industry at the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association and led to him create Spader Business Management, a business that originally served peer 20 groups in the RV and marine industries. The foundation for Spader 20 Groups is an easy-to-use reporting standardization developed by Duane and Noel Lais that allows any dealership with an accounting system to participate. Today, Spader 20 Groups exist in not only in the RV and marine industries, but also in the farm equipment, lighting showroom, motorcoach, office furniture, powersports and pet industries.
Just as Duane and Noel were making good progress on the Spader Total Management system, the economic crisis of 1979 caused the RV dealership to lose 75% of its revenues in 90 days. From a high of 30+ employees, Spader Camper Center was run by just Duane and Noel during the winter of 1979-80.
Duane knew that dealers needed more than just 20 groups to learn the Total Management system. He never wanted to be a trainer, but in the interests of helping small business owners survive and thrive, he began teaching Total Management in 1980. That first workshop consisted of eight marine dealers sitting at school desks in the Spader Camper Center showroom. Duane’s wife Elaine brought home-cooked lunches in each day, and in just four and a half days, Duane taught those dealers how to manage the financial side of their business.
Duane continued to lead the programs at Spader Business Management until he retired in 2012.