Entrepreneurs Make Exploring the Outdoors Simple — and Comfortable
Growing up in Colorado, just 20 minutes from the nearest national park, Kevin Deneen always appreciated the natural beauty around him. When his hometown friend Gabe Aufderheide pitched the idea of building a campervan business rooted in their shared love of the outdoors, Kevin jumped at the chance.
In 2017, the two teamed up with Trevor James, a former coworker of Gabe’s, and the three launched Moterra Campervans with a single van and a simple goal: to make it easier to explore the outdoors without sacrificing comfort. Today, Moterra’s fleet has grown to 70 luxury campervans, available to rent from seven locations across the country. To make planning easy, Moterra also offers curated itineraries that help travelers access national parks and public lands.
Digital tools help power Moterra’s success. The far-flung team uses Google Workspace to coordinate their work; “It’s how we brainstorm, keep information moving efficiently, and onboard new teammates,” Kevin says. In 2023, Moterra doubled down on digital outreach, refining its Google Ads strategy and saw a 181% increase in website visitors and thousands of new customers planning their dream road trips. “It was as if we had opened a new storefront on Main Street,” said co-owner Trevor James.
Kevin’s experience has made him a passionate advocate for policies that support and protect small businesses’ access to the digital tools that fuel their growth. He recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers and White House officials — including representatives from the Office of the Vice President — to share Moterra’s story and push for smarter policy decisions.
“We’re the ones creating jobs, serving customers, and driving innovation in every part of the country,” Kevin said. “If policymakers don’t understand how we operate, the rules they make could do more harm than good. That’s why I speak up.”
To learn more about Moterra Campervans, visit gomoterra.com.
