Speakers
Jason Allen
Jason “Jay” Allen began his real estate career in 1997 performing feasibility studies and evaluations. He’s well-versed in all areas of self-storage investment, management, marketing and consulting. Since 2004, Jay has worked for residential and commercial real estate brokerage firms, brokering deals for residential, land development, multi-family and self-storage. He’s co-founder of Performance Self Storage Group Inc., which helps owners improve facility performance by using Gen-Y marketing techniques and instilling effective onsite operations.
@jaydrum1
Self-Storage Talk: jaydrum
Brock Andrus
Brock Andrus is managing director at 1st Service Solutions. With 15 years of experience in the real estate and private-equity industries, Brock held positions at various real estate companies and has significant experience in the financial-services industry. He uses his combined experience in financing and portfolio management to analyze, negotiate and recommend servicing actions affecting the collateral value of loan assets. During the recent economic downturn, he was involved in more than $1 billion in CMBS loan workouts.
Session: Finance Symposium
Christopher Baird
Christopher Baird, CEO of Automatit Inc., has been involved in website development and marketing since 1996. He’s a Google Certified Adwords Specialist and manages about 500 websites. Christopher has partnered with several start-up companies whose websites now produce more than $1 million in revenue. His self-storage website-development referral partners include CallMaximizer, Universal Management Co. and SMD Software.
@WebDesignTucson
Self-Storage Talk: Automatit
M. Anne Ballard
Anne Ballard is founder and president of Universal Management Co. and a former president and current board member of the Georgia Self Storage Association. Anne co-authored the original copyrighted rental and employment agreements for Georgia. She also assisted in executing two changes to the Georgia self-storage statutes as well as the planning, design and operation of several storage facilities. Anne served on the national Self Storage Association’s board of directors. She frequently speaks at industry events.
Craig Barrett
Craig Barrett, director of search marketing for SpareFoot.com, has created pay-per-click marketing campaigns for a variety of companies—from big companies that spend millions of dollars a month to smaller ones with minimal budgets. Craig also has a fundamentally sound grasp of most digital-marketing activities.
Cristian Batres
Cristian Batres is the vice president for the Latin America Self Storage Association and the international sales representative for Storage Structures Inc., which specializes in design/build for the self-storage industry. Prior to joining Storage Structures, Cristian held various positions at US Door & Building Components, including a design drafter creating layouts and shop drawings, project coordinator, estimator and sales.
Session: Desarrollo y Construcción
Nick Bilava
Nick Bilava is the director of sales and marketing for USstoragesearch.com, a self-storage directory and marketing company that connects online consumers to storage facilities nationwide. Nick works with storage facilities to help them capture more tenants online through USstoragesearch.com and a partner network of sites including StorageUnit.com and Storage.com. Over the past five years he has worked with thousands of storage facilities to help them achieve more rentals online.
Kevin Bledsoe
Kevin Bledsoe oversees the daily operations of properties within the Philadelphia and Maryland markets of the Storage Asset Management portfolio. Prior to employment with Storage Asset Management, Kevin worked in the self-storage industry as a district manager with All Seasons Storage and Simply Self Storage. His previous experiences include advertising and marketing research for firms in Lancaster and York, Pa. Kevin holds a B.S. degree in business marketing from Bloomsburg University.
Self-Storage Talk: kbledsoe
Rod Bolls
Rod Bolls is vice president of business development at Universal Storage Containers. He has more than five years of experience in the portable- storage, self-storage and moving industries. Headquartered in New Canaan, Conn., Universal Storage Containers specializes in the manufacturing of portable, foldable, quick-assembly storage containers for various storage and moving industries worldwide.
Marc Boorstein
Marc Boorstein is a principal and co-founder of MJ Partners Real Estate Services and its affiliates, MJ Partners Self Storage Group and MJ Partners Capital Services. Marc has more than 20 years of real estate experience and has been involved in more than $1 billion in real estate transactions. He represents self-storage operators and institutional investors in the acquisition, disposition and financing of portfolios and single-assets nationwide. He’s a regular speaker at industry tradeshows and a published author regarding industry trends.
James Bratton
James Bratton is a 35-year veteran of the storage industry and a real estate developer. James started building storage facilities in 1974. He’s a licensed design/builder and CEO of MST Constructors, one of the largest storage contractors in the nation. James manages properties, consults and continues to work with the MST Team. Some award-winning projects include multi-story, conversions and design awards.
Cris Burnam
Cris Burnam is president of StorageMart, which owns and operates 132 stores across the United States and Canada. In 2008, Cris led the company in its successful $416 million dollar takeover of InStorage REIT, a publically traded real estate investment trust on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In 2002, he launched PhoneSmart as a wholly owned subsidiary of StorageMart. Today, PhoneSmart provides call-center services to more than 800 independently owned storage facilities. Over the course of his career, Cris has completed more than $2 billion in self-storage sales transactions.
Jim Chiswell
Jim Chiswell, president of Chiswell & Associates LLC, has been involved in the self storage industry for 27 years. He launched his consulting firm in 1990. A speaker at Inside Self-Storage World Expos since their inception, Jim is a member of Inside Self-Storage Editorial Advisory Board, an instructor of the Self-Storage Training Institute and a moderator on Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community. He’s considered one of the top self-storage consultants in the nation.
@MisterJim444
Self-Storage Talk: MisterJim444
Bob Copper
Bob Copper is owner of Self Storage 101, a consulting firm specializing in operational improvement, training, audits, feasibility and market studies, and due diligence. Bob has worked with hundreds of owners and managers to improve sales, collections and operations. As a self-storage owner, he has a unique perspective that relates to working with other operators. Bob has provided oversight to industry leaders in such areas as strategic growth, staff effectiveness, marketing, asset-value improvement and acquisitions. He’s a frequent speaker at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo.
Self-Storage Talk: rcopper
Lucia Darnell
Lucia Darnell is the director of the Spanish department for PhoneSmart, which provides call-center services to the self-storage industry. She has been a valued team member since 2004, and wears many hats. Lucia travels throughout North and South America giving training seminars, attending conventions and acquiring new clients. She even finds time to take self-storage sales calls herself. She’s currently serving as secretary of the Latin America Self Storage Association.
Session: Operación y Gestión de Instalaciones
Chuck Dodge
Chuck Dodge is an account executive with Bader Co., a provider of self-storage tenant insurance. Chuck joined Bader in January 2010, bringing an insurance background with years of experience in customer service and client management. As an account executive, Chuck works to build close relationships with clients to maximize their bottom line through Bader’s insurance program.
Dallas Dogger
Dallas Dogger has been involved in the self-storage industry in Australia since 1984. He has assisted in the development of several facilities and industry companies including Capital Self Storage, Storage Technology, Mini Storage Plus and PTI Australia. In 2000, he formed StorMan International, and later developed AccessEzy. Dallas owns the Centreforce Technology Group and is a director and investor in Capital Business Parks. He writes for a number of industry publications and hosts the annual international roundtable sessions at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo.
@DallasDogger
Self-Storage Talk: Dallas Dogger
Session: International Summit
Daniel "Skip" Elefante
As president and CEO of Platinum Storage Group, Daniel "Skip" Elefante manages more than $450 million in self-storage assets and invests in his personal real estate portfolio through developments and acquisitions. Driven by market changes in the last few years, Skip actively engages institutional investors and private equity partners to form joint ventures for the purchase of self storage facilities. During the same period, he launched the Storage Direct brand to take advantage of economies of scale and ensure every facility meets the highest standards of service and quality.
Claudia Felgueres
Claudia Felgueres is the founder and partner of Practibodegas, the first self-storage business in Queretaro, Mexico. Claudia is a successful entrepreneur, founding three different companies: Practifarmacias (a small chain of drugstores), CELEX (languages school for companies) and WSI (a Canadian franchise for Internet solutions). Claudia has been managing Practibodegas since its development in 2007. She graduated from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey – ITESM, Campus Queretaro with a degree in business administration and an MBA in administrative sciences with marketing specialization.
Session: International Summit
John H. Gilliland
John Gilliland is CEO and founder of Investment Real Estate LLC, Investment Real Estate Management LLC and Investment Real Estate Construction LLC. He served as president of the Pennsylvania Self Storage Association from 2002 to 2006, and is now a member of the New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania Self-Storage Associations. He was elected to the board of directors of the national Self Storage Association in 2003, and served as chairman in 2007. John also owns 14 self-storage facilities in central Pennsylvania.
@JohnHGilliland
Self-Storage Talk: John H. Gilliland
Jeffrey Greenberger
Jeffrey Greenberger is a partner in the Cincinnati law firm of Katz, Greenberger & Norton LLP, where he focuses his practice on commercial real estate with a concentration in self-storage. Jeff assists operators in the design and implementation of legal policies and procedures and operational issues. He's the legal advisor to several state self-storage associations and a featured speaker for national and state tradeshows. He's a regular contributor to Inside Self-Storage and an instructor for the Self-Storage Training Institute.
@selfstoragelaw
Self-Storage Talk: Jeffrey Greenberger
Session: I Can Get in Trouble for That? Common Legal Pitfalls for Self-Storage Operators
Session: Legal Q&A
Session: Legal Learning Live!
Neal Gussis
Neal Gussis is a managing director in the Capital Markets Division of The Corvus Group. Neal has been involved in securing more than $1 billion in debt for commercial properties during his career, primarily focused in the self-storage market niche. Before joining Corvus, he was a principal at The BSC Group and Beacon Realty Capital. He's a frequent speaker at industry events and conferences, and a contributing author on real estate financing topics for regional and national publications.
Sue Haviland
Sue Haviland is the owner of Haviland Storage Services, a partner in Self Storage 101 and the Virtual Self Storage training website, Stor- Success. She has more than 20 years of industry experience including serving as a site manager up to vice president of operations at Extra Space Storage and Price Self Storage. Sue has extensive experience in employee relations, training, auditing, software conversions and operational policy and procedure. She’s a frequent speaker at industry conferences and tradeshows.
Self-Storage Talk: HaviS
Bob Hayworth
Bob Hayworth is owner and CEO of Baja Construction Co. Inc., a design/build company specializing in carports and RV/boat storage. Baja has been in business for more than 25 years, with estimated annual revenue in excess of $25 million. Bob designed the patent-pending Solar Support System, which Baja has successfully implemented in the installation of more than 5 megawatts of fully integrated solar- and RV-shading structures. Bob is frequently invited to speak at industry events about solar-integrated carports and RV ports.
Tim Healy
Tim Healy is an executive vice president at Deans & Homer, an insurance managing underwriter. He’s a
licensed attorney in California and the Federal Courts of Northern California. Tim has been involved with the self-storage industry for more than 20 years and has experience in insurance coverage, property and liability claims, and litigation. He speaks regularly at insurance conventions.
Robin Heuer
Robin Heuer is a partner in Elevated Solar, which specializes in the development, financing and construction management of elevated solar systems including solar carports, solar RV/boat storage, and solar storage and warehousing yards. Robin is responsible for overseeing the company’s business operation including sales, marketing, business development, human resources and communications. She’s instrumental in the development of the company’s model and strategy, and the negotiation of relationships in furtherance of that strategy.
Shawn Hill
Shawn Hill is a principal at The BSC Group, where he’s responsible for advising clients regarding debt and equity financing and loan-workout services for all commercial property types, with an emphasis on self-storage. Shawn is a frequent speaker at self-storage tradeshows and a contributing author to industry publications. His professional background includes work at two credit-rating agencies, Duff and Phelps and Fitch Ratings Inc. Shawn was most recently a senior vice president with Beacon Realty Capital Inc.
Self-Storage Talk: shawnrhill
Mel Holsinger
Mel Holsinger founded Tucson, Ariz.-based Professional Self-Storage Management in 2004 and is the principal, president and CEO of the company. As part of the Inside Self-Storage Editorial Advisory Board, he contributes regularly to the magazine and is a member of the ISS Expo Education Advisory Committee. He's an instructor of the Self-Storage Training Institute, a frequent speaker at industry events, and a moderator for Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community.
Self-Storage Talk: Mel Holsinger
Session: Management Workshop
Devin Huber
Devin Huber, a principal at The BSC Group, is responsible for arranging debt and equity for his clients’ real estate transactions, providing a solution for the entire capital stack. His expertise and advisory services span all property types with a specialization in the self-storage asset class. Prior to helping found The BSC Group, Devin was a senior vice president at Beacon Realty Capital and a key member of the firm’s Self Storage Group. Devin writes for trade publications and is a presenter and panelist at tradeshows and seminars.
Tron Jordheim
Tron Jordheim is the director of PhoneSmart, a provider of call-center services and sales training and coaching to the self-storage industry. PhoneSmart has worked with hundreds of ownership groups and answered calls for thousands of self-storage properties, creating more than 800,000 reservations and leads for its industry clients. Tron is a frequent speaker at self storage events and a contributor to self-storage trade journals
@tronjordheim
Self-Storage Talk: Tron Jordheim
RK Kliebenstein
RK Kliebenstein, vice president of new business development at Chicago-based Metro Self Storage, has more than 25 years of industry experience. He was formerly president of Coast-To-Coast Storage, a consultancy firm offering feasibility studies, site selection, financing, management and marketing services. An industry speaker, author and expert witness, he's written numerous articles for industry magazines and is the co-author of several books on self-storage investment, including the soon-to-be released How to Market and Rent Self-Storage Space.
@rkkliebenstein
Self-Storage Talk: Mel Holsinger
Session: International Summit
Marilyn Leslie
Marilyn Leslie has been involved in the industry since 1998. She’s currently president of MiniCo Asia Limited. During the last nine years Marilyn has worked in all areas of MiniCo’s self-storage business in Hong Kong. Her experience includes contract negotiations, facility planning and development, business modeling and budgeting, market assessment, finance structuring, reporting-systems implementation, and promotional planning. She manages four locations in Hong Kong and is responsible for developing and maintaining all industry-wide business relationships with attorneys, bankers, vendors and others.
Session: International Summit
Tom Litton
Tom Litton heads Litton Property Management Inc. Tom began his career in the self-storage industry during its infancy and has managed more than 150 self-storage facilities in 11 states. Most recently, he managed the Mister Space Self Storage division of The Grupe Co. He currently fee manages and consults throughout Australia, Canada, England, France and the United States. Tom contributes regularly to self-storage publications, has written numerous books and operational guides, and serves on the Inside Self-Storage Editorial Advisory Board.
Self-Storage Talk: Tom Litton
Graham Lomax
Graham Lomax is the European director of sales for U.K.-based Gliderol Self Storage Solutions Ltd. The company is a joint venture between Gliderol Garage Doors and Janus International. Gliderol provides storage solutions for customers from all over Europe and Asia. Graham’s background includes general contracting. As a building surveyor, he’s involved in the entire project, from feasibility study to design, from procurement to final construction. He’s specialized in self-storage since the late 1990s, working on projects in Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Thailand.
Session: International Summit
Jason Lopez
Jason Lopez is a partner and vice president of marketing for Westport Properties, and an owner/operator of nearly 60 facilities in nine states operating as US Storage Centers. He’s responsible for marketing the company’s portfolio and corporate strategy, as well as for acquisitions and third-party management. He’s completed more than $500 million in real estate transactions in retail, office, apartments and self-storage as an owner and broker. Jason is a California Self Storage Association board member.
Robert Madsen
Robert Madsen is president of the U-Lock Mini Storage Group and a director of the Canadian Self Storage Association. Born into the industry (his father was a self-storage owner and a president of the Canada association), he grew up eating and sleeping self-storage and now has more than 25 years of professional experience. Robert started in the business with plunger, broom and hammer in hand, progressing to manager and, ultimately, executive. He’s a moderator for Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community.
@storagemadman
Self-Storage Talk: Madman
Session: International Summit
Stacie Maxwell
Stacie Maxwell is the director of marketing and communications for Universal Management Co., a full-service self-storage management and consulting company. With more than 10 years of self-storage experience, Stacie is responsible for branding, design, marketing-program planning and implementation, and Internet and e-mail marketing for the 40-plus facilities in the UMC portfolio. She works closely with Anne Ballard and David Dixon on new facility development and feasibility studies, from concept to opening day and onward.
@UniversalMgmtCo
Self-Storage Talk: StacieMaxwell
Cary McGovern
Cary McGovern, aka FileMan, a leader in records and information-management (RIM) training, provides executive education in the areas of commercial-records management, sales and sales management. During his 34 year career, Cary has consulted in the development of more than 500 commercial records centers and trained more than 2,500 students in 39 countries. A frequent author and speaker, he has been the owner and general manager of a regional commercial records center and currently runs a lively RIM training and consulting practice.
John Muehling
John Muehling is vice president of marketing for VIRGO. He oversees the development of VIRGO audiences and works to improve the company’s level of engagement, and is also responsible for creating and executing the overall strategy for each of VIRGO’s 18 brands. John previously held several marketing and sales positions within the marketing services, publishing and printing industries. Over the last 20 years, he’s overseen several startups and has consistently been on the cutting-edge of innovative marketing.
Session: Web Workshop 2.0
Derek Naylor
Derek M. Naylor is the founder and president of Storage Marketing Solutions (SMS). His marketing strategies have generated more than $300 million in incremental increased sales for his clients. SMS is dedicated exclusively to the self-storage industry and helps more than 500 storage facilities across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico increase occupancy and profit through innovative marketing and sales strategies. Derek is a regular speaker at national and state industry events as well as a regular contributor to industry publications.
@dereknaylor
Self-Storage Talk: dnaylor
Joseph Niemczyk
Joe Niemczyk joined National Self Storage in 1981 and later became president. In 1986, Joe co-created Executive Self Storage Associates Inc. The company has been involved in the management, consulting and development of more than 1,000 facilities across Australia, China, Europe, the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company oversees the daily operation of more than 3 million square feet of storage and also provides ongoing market analysis and development of several other projects.
Brad North
Brad North, president of Advantage Consulting & Management, has trained and consulted with thousands of self-storage owners and developers throughout the world. He provides onsite consulting, manager-training workshops, seminars and feasibility studies, and his company manages more than 1 million square feet of self-storage. Brad produced a DVD and workbook training tool titled "Maximizing your Sales and Marketing Program," and is a contributor to Inside Self-Storage. He speaks regularly at state and national tradeshows.
@storageadvisor
Self-Storage Talk: Brad North
Hugh Odom
Hugh D. Odom is founder and president of Vertical Developments and Vertical Consultants. The companies focus on increasing revenue for property owners by either the placement of telecom equipment on the property or the optimization of existing telecom lease agreements. Hugh has more than 15 years of real estate and telecom experience, including serving as legal counsel for AT&T for more than 10 years. He has a law degree from University of Mississippi, an MBA degree in finance from Vanderbilt University, and a BBA degree in finance/economics from the University of Memphis.
Larry Oxenham
Larry Oxenham is one of America’s top asset-protection experts, having helped thousands of professionals achieve financial peace of mind by teaching them how to properly structure their assets for lawsuit protection and tax reduction. He has authored and co-authored several articles and books on the subject including The Asset Protection Bible. His career has been credited with helping thousands of people save millions of dollars. Larry Oxenham is a nationally recognized speaker who has trained thousands of professionals at hundreds of conventions, conferences and seminars across the country.
Lewis Pollack
Lewis Pollack is a self-storage owner and managing principal of StoreSmart Development LLC, which operates facilities in six states under HAT Management LLC. A long-time corporate executive and entrepreneur, Lewis has been involved in the development and management of self-storage for more than 25 years. His primary duties include operational matters, site identification, competitive analysis, absorption analysis and construction associated with StoreSmart’s projects. He’s currently serving his second term as a trustee for the Florida Self Storage Association.
Jim Ponti
Jim Ponti began his career in the banking industry as a commercial mortgage lender, asset manager and real estate appraiser. He’s also worked with Safeguard Self Storage as national operations manager, overseeing 33 facilities. Since 2002 he has worked for Janus International as a regional sales manager, providing product sales, feasibility, and design and operations assistance to owners and developers. He’s president of the Louisiana Self Storage Association and serves on the boards for the Kansas and Oklahoma associations. He’s also part owner in several Gulf Coast facilities.
Self-Storage Talk: jimponti
Kenny Pratt
Kenny Pratt is president of Crescendo Properties, which owns and operates 15 facilities. His blog on SellingStorage.com offers information on sales, persuasion, marketing and social media. He’s worked in the self-storage industry for nearly a decade. Kenny created The Self Storage Follow Up Workshop, an online training program to help managers rent more units. He’s an avid user of social media for personal and business, and has written the “Self Storage Guide to Twitter,” which can be downloaded free from his website.
@kennypratt
Self-Storage Talk: KennyPratt
Session: Tactics for Acquiring Self-Storage Customers Through Social Media
Session: The Great Debate: Mass Media vs. Web Marketing in Self-Storage
Julie Purcell
Julie Purcell is founder and president of EPIC Creative, a marketing, design and Web-solutions company. EPIC Creative helps self-storage companies with marketing, design projects and Web solutions such as Web design, search-engine optimization, e-mail marketing, social media and blogging. Julie is considered an innovator in website and marketing practices, and has been called the “Mother Superior of Marketing.”
Georgia Ragsdale
Georgia Ragsdale is president and CEO of Best American Financial Services LLC, a commercial-mortgage brokerage firm focusing on clients in the self-storage industry. Georgia uses her results-focused drive to close millions of dollars in loans in the commercial-property and construction sectors. She has brokered for a hard-money lending source and acquired land for development companies. Georgia has also coached the corporate sales teams of Fortune 500 companies such as Charles Schwab, Bank of America and Grubb & Ellis.
Arie Rezepka
Arie Rezepka is CEO of Aki KB Minibodegas in Chile. Founded in 2003, Aki KB Minibodegas has become the market leader. Arie is also partner and director of Rezepka Desarrillo Inmobiliario Empresa, and has more than 45 years of experience in the self-storage industry. He attended the Central University of Chile from 1988-94, and received a masters in architecture from Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain. Arie currently serves on the Latin America Self Storage Association board as the ambassador to Chile.
Session: International Summit
Jack Rogers
Jack Rogers is vice president of business development for Sovran Self Storage Inc., which operates under the Uncle Bob’s Self Storage brand. Sovran is the fifth largest self-storage company in the nation. Jack is currently leading the company’s third-party management initiative as well as its solar installation projects. Since joining the company in 1993, he has been instrumental in Sovran’s growth, assisting in property acquisitions and management, and special projects including the Uncle Bob’s rental-truck program.
James Ross
James Ross is a vice president of Cutting Edge Self Storage Management, a full-service management company specializing in management, feasibility studies, consulting, facility development and joint ventures within the self-storage industry. James is also a board member of the Utah Self Storage Association.
@CuttingEdgeMgt
Self-Storage Talk: jimrosscuttingedge
Matt Schaller
Matt Schaller is vice president of sales and client services with Storage Property Protection. Matt has 23 years of experience in the insurance industry including global and regional brokerage, as well as experience as an agency president and specialties in self-storage, tenant insurance and property protection. A Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Risk Manager, Matt is a graduate of Ohio State University
Stacey Shaw
Stacey Shaw, chief client officer for Michaels Wilder, has more than 15 years of talent-acquisition and retention experience. Stacey has an innovative approach to developing solutions for clients, creating brand platforms, optimizing marketing spending with effective sourcing tools and processes, and developing ongoing employee-communication strategies. Her background encompasses managing client relationships, developing strategic financial plans, and leading a team dedicated to producing results. Stacey has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas State University.
Mark Sheperdigian
Mark Sheperdigian is an entomologist delighted to be serving Rose Pest Solutions of Troy, Mich., as an ambassador for entomology, science education and the urban pest-management industry. Known better as “Shep,” he’s attained a presence locally and nationally within the pest-management industry. With his degree in entomology from Michigan State University, Mark has spent 28 years in urban pest management.
Self-Storage Talk: ShepBCE
Carol Shipley
Carol Shipley is vice president of third-party management for CubeSmart, a self-storage real estate investment trust. Carol has extensive experience in real estate development and management with a focus on self-storage. From 2000 to 2010, she was president of United Stor-All Management LLC, which operated more than 90 facilities for a variety of third-party owners. She also served as senior vice president of Storage USA, leading a variety departments including marketing, franchise development, training and investor relations.
John Siefert
John Seifert joined VIRGO as CEO in 2010 after a 15-year career with United Business Media, where he was senior vice president of the InformationWeek Business Technology Network. He played a pivotal role in transitioning InformationWeek from a print-centric publisher to an online network of websites, digital products and peer-to-peer analyst business. With nearly 20 years of media and event experience, John drives the strategic direction of VIRGO with the rest of the company’s executive management team.
Session: Web Workshop 2.0
Harry Sleighel
Harry Sleighel, president of Storage Property Protection, entered the Travelers Insurance Management Program after college and earned a Group 1 license. He moved to Phoenix to manage and market MiniCo Inc.'s customer-storage insurance program. After successfully running the division for two years, he was promoted to vice president of marketing, and later to executive vice president. Harry left MiniCo in 1989 and launched Michaels Wilder with a partner. In 2010, he launched SPP, which offers a comprehensive property-protection program.
Self-Storage Talk: Storpro
Randy Smith
Randy A. Smith is a self-described “controversial, challenging, push-the-limits, outside-the-box-thinker who purposely rejects the status quo,” especially in the areas of self-storage marketing, branding and operations . Since joining Another Closet in 2002, he has led the company through phenomenal growth to its current status, having ranked on the Inside Self-Storage Top Operator’s List several years in a row.
David Smyle
David Smyle, a 24-year veteran in the commercial real estate financing industry, is currently managing director of Churchill Mortgage Capital. The company provides financing for self-storage, retail, industrial, office, apartments and other commercial properties nationwide through its insurance-company correspondent relationships and bank and credit union lenders. The company has offices in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. David formerly worked for Benchmark Financial, a commercial mortgage banking firm.
Christian Sonne
Christian Sonne is the senior managing director of the Self Storage Industry Group of Cushman & Wakefield, which offers facility valuations, industry analyses and investor surveys. Prior to joining C&W, Chris was a real estate appraiser serving financial institutions, government agencies, industrial and commercial firms, the legal profession, and the development industry. He has been a featured speaker at many self-storage conferences and is author of the “Self Storage Economics and Appraisal” seminar sponsored by The Appraisal Institute.
Steve Spohn
Steve Spohn is the president of Quraz, Japan’s largest self-storage owner and operator. Since moving to Japan from Boston in 2008, Steve has overseen the development and execution of Quraz’s operating and growth strategies, resulting in top- and bottom-line growth averaging 25 percent and 125 percent per year, respectively. Prior to Quraz, Steve spent most of the previous 10 years working in a variety of financial roles for Softbank Capital and its portfolio companies in the United States.
Session: International Summit
Megan Stanish
Megan Stanish is director of client services for Michaels Wilder, a marketing and advertising firm. Megan leverages 17 years of experience in the recruitment-marketing industry, supporting clients in endeavors ranging from ad development and placement to the recruitment process, employee engagement and employment marketing strategies. Megan has worked with a wide range of companies spanning many industries. Her undergraduate degree in English from Georgetown University is supplemented by an MBA from Emory University.
CJ Steen
CJ Steen is the marketing director at On The Move Inc., which offers a turnkey truck-leasing program. Born into the storage industry, she was hired by her parents as the relief manager at their self-storage facility when she was 16. She attended Hawaii Pacific University and received a degree in marketing. She’s currently working to obtain an executive MBA at Texas Woman’s University.
Jim Stevens
Jim Stevens joined Extra Space Storage in January 2001 after working in the self-storage industry for 18 years. He also oversaw seven pick-up and delivery locations, opened a test call center and performed site acquisitions. Jim served as divisional vice president for Extra Space Storage until November 2006 when he became senior vice president of acquisitions and business development. Since that time, he has overseen more than $650 million in acquisitions and the transition of more than 125 sites to the Extra Space Management program, ManagementPlus.
Randy Tipton
Randy Tipton owns and operates Universal Insurance Facilities Ltd., which has provided specialized insurance coverages to the self-storage industry for nearly 15 years. Randy is a seasoned industry professional with more than 30 years of insurance underwriting, marketing and management experience. She speaks at industry tradeshows, holds insurance seminars and speaks with facility owners nationwide. Randy is a contributor to Inside Self-Storage, an instructor for the Self-Storage Training Institute and a moderator for Self-Storage Talk.
Self-Storage Talk: Randyt
Carl E. Touhey
Carl E. Touhey began his real estate career in 1986 and entered the self-storage industry in 1992. His family owns and operates eight facilities. Carl has brokered more than $200 million in self-storage sales. His track record and results have distinguished him as one of the most successful self-storage sales and acquisitions specialists. In April 2010, he co-founded Performance Self Storage Group with Jason Allen. The firm specializes in self-storage management, marketing and training.
Matthew Van Horn
Matthew Van Horn is a board member of the Florida Self Storage Association and vice president of Cutting Edge Self Storage Management, a full-service company specializing in facility management, feasibility studies, consulting, development, and joint ventures. Hired by Cutting Edge in 2001, Matthew was promoted to the company’s east cost regional vice president of operations in 2002. He specializes in site operations and has managed, consulted or performed feasibility studies for facilities in nine states.
@CuttingEdgeMgt
Self-Storage Talk: Mvanhorn
Ben Vestal
Ben Vestal has been involved in the management, development, construction and brokerage of commercial real estate since 1996. He began his career as a partner in the development of several industrial properties, and has since been involved in more than $250 million commercial real estate brokerage transactions. In 2006, Ben acquired an ownership interest in the Argus Self Storage Sales Network Inc., an independent network of real estate brokers specializing in self-storage properties.
@ArgusStorage
Self-Storage Talk: bvestal
Charles Ray Wilson
Charles Ray Wilson is a recognized authority on self-storage investment analysis and a regular speaker at industry tradeshows. He's a frequent contributor to industry magazines and often quoted in national newspapers. In 1992, he founded Self Storage Data Services Inc. (SSDS), a research company that tracks the operating performance of several thousand facilities. Ray consults regularly with the nation's top self-storage analysts on valuation and performance matters.
Self-Storage Talk: Ray Wilson
Caesar Wright
Caesar Wright is president of Mako Steel Inc., which specializes in self-storage design and construction. His enterprising skills helped launch the company to the forefront of the industry. Caesar is a well-known and respected professional, known for his ability to manage, negotiate and succeed without compromising his integrity or sense of humor. As part of the Inside Self-Storage Editorial Advisory Board, he contributes regularly to the magazine, and is also a moderator for Self-Storage Talk.
Self-Storage Talk: Caesar Wright
Scott Zucker
Scott Zucker is a partner in the law firm Weissmann Zucker Euster Morochnik P.C., where he specializes in real estate and business litigation. He represents owners and managers on legal matters such as property development, lease preparation, employment policies, tenant-claims defense, foreclosure and lien sales, premises liability, and loss-control safeguards. Scott is legal counsel to a number of state storage associations, a frequent speaker at conferences, and a contributing author to industry magazines.
Session: Managing Your Self-Storage Auctions
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