Speakers
Past attendees have always commented on the incredible speakers we have brought in for our education sessions, and this year is no different! As we continue to finalize this year's lineup, we are pleased to provide a sneak peek at this year's confirmed speakers:
Jay Allen
Jason "Jay" Allen began his real estate career in 1997 performing feasibility studies and evaluations, and analyzing hundreds of self-storage properties nationwide. He’s well-versed in all areas of self-storage brokerage, management, marketing and consulting. Jay and Carl Touhey co-founded Performance Self Storage Group, which specializes in self-storage brokerage. Carl and Jay have completed more than $350 million in self-storage sales in California.
@Jaydrum1
Self-Storage Talk: jaydrum
SESSION:
Christina Alvino
Christina Alvino is the marketing director for Guardian Storage Solutions in Pittsburgh. Prior to joining the Guardian team, she worked in the hospitality industry for the better part of a decade, honing her skills for marketing companies in multi-markets. Bringing the knowledge she gained from this outside industry, she’s implementing a fully integrated marketing plan using traditional and non-traditional methods to market Guardian’s properties in Pittsburgh and Denver.
@jChristinaAlvino
Self-Storage Talk: calvino
SESSION:
Using Content Marketing to Tell Your Self-Storage Business Story and Engage Customers
Ernesto Arzac
Ernesto Arzac is the president and franchise CEO of Bodegas Usted Guarda, the industry's pioneer in Mexico with 17 facilities that are co-owned, operated and developed under a franchise scheme. With more than 20 years of experience, Bodegas Usted Guarda has grown internationally, assisting in the development, operations and marketing of self-storage in Costa Rica, Panamá, Guatemala, Colombia, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. Ernesto is a former board member for the Latin American Self Storage Association as an ambassador of Mexico.
SESSION:
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
SESSIONS:
Going Mobile With Your Self-Storage Website and Other Online Presence
Marketing Workshop
M. Anne Ballard
Anne Ballard is president of training, marketing and developmental services for Universal Storage Group. She is also the founder of Universal Management Co., in addition to 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, and is known worldwide as “The Hat Lady.”
SESSIONS:
Effective Time and Information Management for Self-Storage Managers
Marketing Workshop
Mark Beck
Mark Beck is the owner of StorageAlly, ambassador for the California Self Storage Association and a self-storage operator since 1995. In his career, Mark has supported more than 200 store teams in the United States and Europe. Currently, he lives in Southern California with his wife and son.
SESSION:
Handling Customer Reviews and Complaints in a Facebook World
David Blum
David Blum worked as a district manager for Storage USA and as vice president of operation for Budget Mini-Storage in South Florida before launching his own consulting firm in 2003. As the owner of Better Management Systems LLC, David assists self-storage clients worldwide with issues of self-storage feasibility, development and management. He works with clients in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the United States. David also co-founded the Florida Self Storage Association, serving as president in 2004 and 2011.
SESSIONS:
Self-Storage Around the World: Business Operation
Self-Storage? What Is That? Industry Marketing in Virgin Territory
Alicia Braach
Alicia Braach is a marketing executive and social-media manager for Sutton Watkins Advertising & Marketing. She has served as the senior account executive responsible for the grassroots marketing efforts of self-storage operator StorageOne for the past seven years. She’s responsible for managing and marketing more than 23 facilities in two markets. Alicia has expertise in marketing self-storage in good and bad economic times, and is responsible for training facility managers in marketing and sales.
SESSION:
A Self-Storage Operator's Fundamental Guide to Web Marketing
Robert Bret
Robert Bret has 16 years of training experience on numerous topics and more than 14 years specifically in the human-resources field formulating policies and procedures, employment law, developing trainings and seminars, recruitment, testing, placement, orientation, benefits and labor relations. He has designed, edited and directed the development of training programs, curricula and testing for thousands of internal and external employees and managers. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Self Storage Association.
SESSION:
Effective Performance Management: Motivating and Enriching Your Self-Storage Staff
Charles Byerly
Charles Byerly is an executive with Westport Properties, CEO of US Storage Centers (USSC), and an owner/operator of about 4,000,000 square feet of self-storage space in nine states. He’s heavily involved in all real estate, finance and operational oversight for the company. Charles also serves as a board member and treasurer for the California Self Storage Association, and devotes time to Kure It Cancer Research, a 501(c)(3) charity.
SESSION:
Alternatives to Self-Storage Consolidation: How to Avoid Being a Sellout
S. David Childers
S. David Childers lectures nationally on insurance issues and practices primarily in the area of insurance regulation. Prior to his entry into private practice, he served as director of the Arizona Department of Insurance for nearly four years. While serving as a state insurance regulator, he was actively involved in the leadership of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, serving on its executive committee, chairing the Workers’ Compensation Task Force and the Accident & Health Committee. He’s admitted to practice insurance regulatory and insurance defense in Arizona.
SESSION:
Self-Storage Tenant Insurance: 39 Shades of Grey and Much More
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 the Inside Self-Storage World Expo since its inception, Jim is a member of the 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
SESSION:
Self-Storage Feasibility: Whether You Buy or Build, Can You Still Make Money?
Robert Chiti
Robert Chiti is founder and CEO of OpenTech Alliance Inc., a provider of technology solutions to the self-storage industry. In his position, he's responsible for long-term strategic planning, daily operations oversight, and promotion of the company's culture. Robert is a regular presenter at national and state conferences, the author of many industry-related articles, and was recently appointed to the California Self Storage Association’s board of directors.
SESSION:
Alternatives to Self-Storage Consolidation: How to Avoid Being a Sellout
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James Ciaciuch
James Ciaciuch is founder and president of Temperature Retention Systems Inc., the parent company of Storage Door Curtains. The company manufactures weatherized door curtains for self-storage roll-up doors. James is a self-storage owner and has been in the commercial-building industry for more than 25 years. He previously owned an online network of self-help websites related to residential and commercial construction. The development of the weatherized door curtains product was initially created out of necessity for James’ own self-storage properties in the Pacific Northwest.
Self-Storage Talk: James_Ciaciuch
SESSION:
Weatherizing Self-Storage Facilities: How to Be More Energy-Efficient and Increase Profit
Danny Clemons
A self-storage pioneer, Danny Clemons has been involved in the industry since 1979, participating in the design and construction of more than 50 million square feet of self-storage space. He’s currently president and owner of DCD Services Inc. and DCD Storage LLC, which furnishes and erects self-storage buildings from coast to coast. He’s also co-owner of D&D Investments, which owns and operates multiple facilities in the South. Danny has been involved in every aspect of self-storage construction and ownership.
SESSION:
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
SESSIONS:
Improving Your Self-Storage Collections: Effective Skills to Get the Rent!
Self-Storage Maintenance and Curb Appeal: More Than Making It 'Pretty'
Owner/Operator Executive Workshop
Lucia Darnell
Lucia Darnell is the director of the Spanish department for PhoneSmart, which provides call-center services to the self-storage industry. She's 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 the secretary of the Latin America Self Storage Association.
SESSIONS:
Discusiones de Mesa Redonda
Operando Con Éxito en el Auto-Almacenamiento
Steven De Tollenaere
Steven De Tollenaere is founder and CEO of iTribe, which provides services focused on top line improvement of its customers through the implementation of best practice operational processes supported by state-of-the-art software. Steven has a strong interest in the operational improvement through systems and automation in a multi-language and multi-cultural environment. He created iTribe and teamed with a number of European storage veterans to offer a suite of software products and consulting services aimed at optimizing sales through operational excellence for self-storage operators.
SESSION:
Dallas Dogger
Dallas Dogger has been involved in the self-storage industry since 1984. In 2006, he launched Centreforce IT, which represents a number of leading software suppliers. Dallas is the promoter of the Storage Expo shows in Australia and is involved in Storage Expo Asia 2013. He’s a director of Capital Business Parks, a self-storage company with holdings in excess of $60 million. He writes for a number of industry magazines, is a speaker at various self-storage conferences and hosts the annual international roundtable sessions at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo.
@DallasDogger
Self-Storage Talk: Dallas Dogger
SESSION:
John O’Dwyer
John O’Dwyer founded Valuation Group Ltd., a real estate valuation and consulting company, in 1989. He’s a graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology and University of Dublin, Trinity College, where he majored in real estate finance, town planning and economics. He’s an Illinois state-certified general appraiser, a designated Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI) and a Member of the Royal Institute of Charter Surveyors (MRICS), General Practice Division.
SESSION:
Self-Storage Valuation: What You Should Understand About the Appraisal Process
Sherri Elliott-Yeary
Sherri Elliott-Yeary is an author, speaker and consultant in the area of human resources and talent management. She’s the president of Human Capital Solutions (HCS), a division of Imprimis Group. Prior to joining HCS, Sherri was the CEO of Optimance Workforce Strategies. Her expertise has positively impacted companies worldwide including Bank of America, Chickasaw Nation, JCPenney, Capital One, CVS/Caremark, Brinker International, Gaylord Entertainment, Medical Center of Plano and Tenet Healthcare Corp.
SESSION:
As Health Care Changes Loom, Is Your Self-Storage Business Ready?
Jay Lynne Fleming
Jay Lynne Fleming owns and operates Storage For Your Life Solutions Inc. She opened her first self-storage facility in 1999. The company has more than 20 employees, and four locations with more than 334,000 square feet of rentable space and an additional 20,000 of commercial/retail space. Jay’s goal is to double the size of her company through acquisitions, additional development of new properties, or management of independently owned facilities.
SESSION:
Scott Frank
Scott Frank is the founding principal of the Law Offices of Scott A. Frank, P.A. in Boca Raton, Fla. He specializes in commercial real estate and corporate law, with extensive experience assisting clients in acquisitions, dispositions, development, financing, leasing and land-use issues, as well as the structuring of corporate entities and partnerships. He has advised self-storage operators in all aspects of development and management. Scott also has significant experience in the purchase and sale of distressed properties, including restructuring loans, and the purchase and sale of debt.
SESSION:
Turning Distressed Properties Into Self-Storage Opportunities
Mike Gong
Mike Gong is the national self-storage practice leader for Arthur J. Gallagher, the nation's third-largest insurance brokerage. He has been instrumental in developing Gallagher's specific expertise and knowledge of the self-storage industry for more than a decade through evaluating various real estate and operational risks associated with the industry. With his unique experience in managing claims and assessing distinctive insurance issues with operators, Mike is considered an insurance leader for storage operators everywhere.
SESSION:
Solving the Mystery of the Insurance Markets: Understanding Your Premiums and Terms
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
SESSIONS:
Hurdles to the Courthouse: Actions You Can Take to Reduce Your Chances of Being Sued
You Don’t Control the Climate! Terms to Avoid Using in Your Self-Storage Vocabulary
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. 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.
SESSION:
Getting Ahead and Being Prepared to Obtain Self-Storage Financing
Brett Hatcher
Brett Hatcher is a senior associate and member of the National Self-Storage Group within Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services. Since 2005, he has closed more than 40 transactions totaling more than $100 million. Brett currently has more than $33 million in active and under-contract listings. Brett’s knowledge of the self-storage market is unparalleled in the industry and he has consistently ranked in the top 10 within the National Self-Storage Group.
SESSION:
Investment Trends in Major Self-Storage Markets: Cap and Interest Rates
Sue Haviland
Sue Haviland is the owner of Haviland Storage Services and 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, and recently joined the board of directors for Charity Storage.
Self-Storage Talk: HaviS
SESSION:
Delivering the Total Service Experience to Self-Storage Customers
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.
SESSION:
Building a Solar Storage Facility: The Nation's Largest Project Shows the Way
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 advancing that strategy.
SESSION:
Building a Solar Storage Facility: The Nation's Largest Project Shows the Way
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
SESSION:
Understanding Your Options in Today's Self-Storage Finance Market
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:
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.
SESSION:
Understanding Your Options in Today's Self-Storage Finance Market
Peter Ingersoll
Peter Ingersoll currently serves as the president of the California Self Storage Association. He’s an expert on the self-storage industry, a self-storage industry columnist and author, and a speaker at many conferences and seminars. Peter is a board member of the Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute, Northern California Chapter; the Wharton Club of Northern California and the Wharton Real Estate Group.
SESSION:
Alternatives to Self-Storage Consolidation: How to Avoid Being a Sellout
Bruce Jordan
Bruce Jordan is president of Jordan Architects Inc. He’s recognized as a leading expert in the area of self-storage, having designed more than 1,500 self-storage projects in the United States, Canada and Europe. He’s won several honors for his designs, including “Facility of the Year” awards in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Bruce has more than 30 years of experience and has been in the forefront of many design innovations for self-storage projects.
Self-Storage Talk: bjordan
SESSION:
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 1 million 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
SESSION:
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: selfstorage
SESSIONS:
Self-Storage Around the World: Investment and Development
Trimming the Self-Storage Fat: How to Control Facility Costs and Achieve Fiscal Fitness
Tom Laden
Tom Laden is the program manager/underwriter for StorageFirst, a property and liability insurance program for self-storage owners. Tom has been in the insurance business for more than 25 years, earning his Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation in 1990 and creating the StorageFirst program in 1999.
SESSION:
Solving the Mystery of the Insurance Markets: Understanding Your Premiums and Terms
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:
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:
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:
Doug Martin
Doug Martin is the vice president of Temperature Retention Systems Inc., the parent company of Storage Door Curtains. The company manufactures weatherized door curtains for self-storage units. Previously, Doug was an instructor at a local community college where he taught building-construction management. He’s a consultant in the building community with a concentration on building science and energy efficiency, and has been a general contractor for more than 17 years specializing in energy-efficient and low-maintenance buildings.
SESSION:
Weatherizing Self-Storage Facilities: How to Be More Energy-Efficient and Increase Profit
Carol Mixon Krendl
Carol Mixon Krendl, owner of SkilCheck Services, has been involved with self-storage since 1984. She has conducted seminars for self-storage owners and managers on storage-related topics and is considered an expert in all aspects of the industry. Carol has been active in the national Self Storage Association for more than 13 years and is vice president of Excellence in Management, a third-party management company currently managing more than 20 properties.
SESSION:
Stacie Maxwell
As vice president of marketing for Universal Storage Group (USG), Stacie Maxwell oversees the branding, design, marketing-program planning and implementation for the company, including all offline and online marketing for the entire USG portfolio of storage facilities. In addition, she also oversees the marketing and internal/public communications for USG corporate. With more than 12 years of experience in the storage industry, Stacie works closely with industry veteran M. Anne Ballard on all facility-development projects, from concept to opening day, through leaseup and onward.
Self-Storage Talk: StacieMaxwell
SESSIONS:
Going Mobile With Your Self-Storage Website and Other Online Presence
Marketing Workshop
Rich Morahan
Rich Morahan produces a quarterly security and marketing magazine for the self-storage industry. He’s also written numerous articles on these topics for industry trade magazines, and conducted security and marketing seminars at industry conferences for his clients, including Lock America International and Mirus Restaurant Solutions. He’s an occasional contributor to Self-Storage Talk.
Self-Storage Talk: rmwrite
SESSION:
Creating a Self-Storage Security Program That Attracts Tenants and Deters Criminals
Philip Murphy
Philip Murphy owns and operates 14 stores under the Next Door Storage brand. Along with being the vice president of the Illinois Self Storage Association, he’s also the founder of CallPotential, a lead-management solution built for the self-storage industry to help managers convert more leads into rentals.
@CallPotential
Self-Storage Talk: philback
SESSION:
Plugging the Holes in Your Customer Pipeline: How to Stop Losing Sales to Competitors
Joe 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.
SESSION:
Simple Methods to Help Self-Storage Operators Compete in the New Economic Climate
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
SESSION:
Ann Pilla
Ann Pilla is a senior commercial property and casualty underwriter with Chubb Insurance Group, overseeing the self-storage program division. She has been with Chubb for more than 12 years and in the insurance industry for more than 30 years. Ann started her career in the agribusiness-insurance industry, and then moved into general commercial insurance. Her emphasis on self-storage has helped her get involved with industry operators nationwide to review their growing risk exposures.
SESSION:
Solving the Mystery of the Insurance Markets: Understanding Your Premiums and Terms
Lewis Pollack
Lew Pollack has been active in the self-storage industry for more 30 years as an owner, developer, consultant and asset/property manager. He's a principal in Reliant Real Estate Management LLC, which manages more than 1.5 million square feet of self-storage across the United States. Lewis is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and holds a doctorate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is serving his third term as a trustee of the Florida Self Storage Association and is the 2013 president for that organization.
SESSION:
Self-Storage Retrofitting: Post-Construction Considerations and Case Studies
Ajay Prasad
Ajay Prasad is CEO of Global Marketing Resources. An entrepreneur and a veteran business strategist, Ajay has extensive experience in Internet-strategy development and implementation for businesses of all sizes from startups to Fortune 10 companies. He helps small businesses capture their share of Web business at the lowest cost possible through development, maintenance and online marketing support.
SESSION:
Alternatives to Self-Storage Consolidation: How to Avoid Being a Sellout
Alyssa Quill
Alyssa Quill is an owner of Storage Asset Management, a third-party property-management and consulting company based in Pennsylvania. SAM currently manages about 30 self-storage facilities and three UPS Stores. Alyssa has been in the self-storage industry for 11 years, previously working for Extra Space Storage Inc. and Investment Real Estate Management LLC. Her strengths are facility operation and revenue management.
SESSION:
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 Catalunya, Spain. Arie currently serves on the Latin America Self Storage Association board as the ambassador to Chile.
SESSION:
Michael Rhoads
Michael Rhoads is executive vice president of PFG Capital, a real estate syndication, development, management, construction and venture-capital company. He’s a licensed realtor, property and casualty and surplus lines insurance broker. In 2010, he co-founded Storsmart Insurance, a company specializing in self-storage tenant-contents insurance. Mike is currently responsible for sales, marketing, customer service, operations and program development functions. He’s also a board member for the Pennsylvania Self Storage Association.
Self-Storage Talk: Allseasonsmike
SESSION:
David Rodecker
David has led Internet application and marketing technology companies for more than a decade. At RelevantAds, he formed a local-advertising product that highlights companies online. David led the development of Local.com, a local-search destination with more than 4.4 million unique monthly visitors. As a founding partner at Mail2World, he created an Internet e-mail service, growing it to 6.5 million hosted mailboxes with clients AOL/ICQ, EsMas, iVillage and NetIdentity. David has appeared on CNBC and TechTV evangelizing Internet-application services.
SESSION:
James Ross
James Ross is 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. He specializes in business development, new facility startup, marketing, bookkeeping and day-to-day property management. James has managed, consulted or performed feasibility studies for facilities in numerous states. He’s a board member of the Utah Self Storage Association.
SESSION:
Mike Schofield
Mike Schofield is president and CEO of MiniCo Insurance Agency LLC, a full-service managing general agency offering multiple specialty-property and casualty-insurance products for a variety of unique industries and exposures. He has more than 30 years of experience as an insurance executive with management responsibilities for sales, marketing, underwriting, claims, customer care and leadership development.
SESSION:
The Three Cs of Self-Storage Insurance: Catastrophes, Claims and Coverage
Solving the Mystery of the Insurance Markets: Understanding Your Premiums and Terms
Kat Shenoy
Kat Shenoy is the founder, president and CEO of E-SoftSys LLC, a global software-development company. Kat directs the company’s strategic and tactical planning, and is assisted by his management team in running the company’s operations and sales and marketing functions. E-SoftSys offers several software solutions including Self Storage Manager, e-CRM, AntiqueSoft and Booth Tracker. Kat dedicates some of his time to charity-related causes ,and E-SoftSys provides pro-bono services to non-profit and charity organizations such as Kure It Cancer Research.
SESSION:
Alternatives to Self-Storage Consolidation: How to Avoid Being a Sellout
Christian Sonne
Christian Sonne is the executive 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.
SESSION:
Maximizing Your Self-Storage Investment: Market Trends and Their Effect on Facility Performance
Noah Springer
Noah Springer is the director of strategic partnerships for Extra Space Storage, a self-storage real estate investment trust. Noah founded and currently operates the company's third-party management program, Management Plus, which consists of the management of 200 self-storage properties. Noah has been with Extra Space since 2006, completing more than $250 million in self-storage acquisitions and involved in multiple joint-venture development properties. Prior to joining Extra Space, Noah traded short-term bonds for Zions Bank in Salt Lake City.
SESSION:
Shari Sutton
Shari Sutton is president of Sutton Watkins Advertising & Marketing. She has been a respected agency principal since 1998, with expertise in senior management, marketing and advertising. Shari is responsible for several prominent accounts, having served as marketing director for StorageOne’s 24 facilities in Arizona and Nevada for the past 12 years.
SESSION:
A Self-Storage Operator's Fundamental Guide to Web Marketing
Nancy Torres
Nancy Torres is director of business development Latin America for Janus International, a provider of doors and building components for the self-storage industry. In addition to cultivating business in the region, she serves as president of the Latin America Self Storage Association. Prior to joining Janus, Nancy managed the construction of several self-storage facilities and spearheaded the construction process in Puerto Rico.
SESSIONS:
Carl E. Touhey
Carl E. Touhey began his real estate career in 1986 selling investment real estate in Phoenix. His family built their first storage facility in the early 1970s and currently own and operate eight facilities. Carl’s interest and success in fixing “problem” properties resulted in an impressive ownership track record. He has personally brokered more than $350 million in sales of self-storage properties. He is co-founder of Performance Self Storage Group with Jason “Jay” Allen, which specializes exclusively in self-storage brokerage and consulting in California.
SESSION:
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
SESSION:
Kenneth Weiner
Kenneth Weiner has been a professional commercial real estate operator since 1983. He’s the president of JK Investment Properties, which forms investment groups and offers property-management services. Kenneth has created more than 25 investment groups. He’s the founder of the Nevada Self Storage Association and served as its president from 2004-2010. Kenneth is a partner in Global Box, which funded $20 million to open three self-storage facilities in Madrid, Spain. He’s also a partner in select StorageOne properties in Las Vegas.
Self-Storage Talk: Ken Weiner
SESSION:
Establishing and Operating Self-Storage in Europe: An Operator's Perspective
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
SESSION:
Maximizing Your Self-Storage Investment: Market Trends and Their Effect on Facility Performance
Dave Wolf
Dave Wolf has been the managing partner of Linkmedia 360 since 2004. He’s responsible for a number of innovative strategies that have enabled the company’s clients to use online, mobile technology and social media to maximize the impact of their lead-generation campaigns. Dave previously worked at the New York office of Symphoni Interactive. He has also worked as a strategist in the marketing and energy-trading unit of Ontario Power Generation.
SESSION:
Orlando Wong Escarrás
Orlando Wong is the general manager for Mega Storage in Panama. Orlando has been involved in the self-storage industry since 2002 after he retired from his post as a major in the U.S. Army. He began with AAA Mini Almacenes and later joined Caribbean Self Storage in Puerto Rico. Orlando worked his way up to general manager with Mega Storage. He was involved in all aspects of the construction, operations, marketing and development of more than 12 self-storage facilities in the Caribbean, Colombia and Panama.
SESSIONS:
Cindy Woudenberg
As vice president of business development for the Capital Review Group, Cindy Woudenberg plays a key role in developing business that forges common goals and initiatives that align with partners’ and clients’ objectives. Cindy has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, marketing and business development. Her specialties include sustainable building, search-engine optimization, social media and marketing. Based in Phoenix, Capital Review Group is a consulting firm that helps businesses develop energy-efficient projects.
SESSION:
Weatherizing Self-Storage Facilities: How to Be More Energy-Efficient and Increase Profit
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
SESSION:
Building Self-Storage Profit Through Innovative Facility Expansion
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