Cynthia Helms
Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) has hired Cynthia Helms as controller. Helms, who brings over 20 years of financial leadership expertise in real estate and fund accounting, will aid in the management of financial strategy and accounting operations to support IREGC’s growth. Prior to joining IREGC, she held multiple senior-level positions at several companies, leaving her well-versed in optimized financial reporting, automated cash distribution processes, and leading system upgrades for commercial real estate funds. In this role, she will streamline back-office operations, lead a team of six accounting professionals, and enhance analytical frameworks to guide data-driven business decisions. Her proven track record in generally accepted accounting principle (GAAP) compliance, process automation, and cross-functional collaboration will bolster IREGC’s ability to scale sustainably.
Andrew Sherrard
Integrity Storage Group has appointed Andrew Sherrard to its board of directors, further strengthening the company’s leadership as it scales its national self-storage portfolio. Sherrard, who spent more than 14 years as a senior executive at T-Mobile, brings a valuable combination of corporate leadership, marketing expertise, and operational experience, which uniquely positions him to support Integrity’s next phase of growth. During his time at T-Mobile, he played a pivotal role in the company’s evolution into a disruptive force in the wireless industry, holding multiple leadership roles and helping drive brand growth, subscriber acquisition, and national market share. He then transitioned into self-storage, becoming the owner-operator of Reliable Self Storage; his hands-on involvement in ground-up development and facility operations has given him a dual perspective in both strategic planning and day-to-day management. In addition to his executive and operational background, Sherrard is known for his ability to bridge big-picture strategy with tactical execution and for building teams that thrive on innovation and customer focus.
Karen Tara Bourbié
nodaFi, a leading provider of facilities operations software, has welcomed Karen Tara Bourbié as Head of Marketing. Bourbié joins nodaFi with extensive experience in building and scaling marketing functions for high-growth startups. Most recently, she led marketing at Doxel, where she drove brand awareness and demand generation. At nodaFi, she will focus on expanding the company’s presence in self-storage and other key verticals through strategic marketing initiatives.
Eyas Ranjous
nodaFi, a leading provider of facilities operations software, has welcomed Eyas Ranjous as Senior Fullstack Engineer to support its mission of enhancing accountability, consistency, and efficiency in facility management. Ranjous, formerly at Aspire, brings deep technical expertise to nodaFi’s engineering team. His work will be instrumental in developing software features that help self-storage operators save time and money on maintenance while increasing rentable units. By streamlining task management and improving operational visibility, his contributions will enable facility owners to optimize resources and boost overall profitability.
Darby Owenby
Darby Owenby at Elevate Structures has been promoted to Vice President of Operations. Darby will oversee estimating, engineering and drafting, and pre-construction, bringing deep cross-functional knowledge and a commitment to seamless project delivery from conception to completion.
Ben Aune
Elevate Structures welcomes Ben Aune as Vice President of Construction. Ben brings extensive experience in commercial and multifamily construction and will lead Elevate's national construction and field operastions, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to Elevate's signature standard: on-site, on-schedule, all the time.
Orla Allison
Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) has appointed Orla Allison as the company’s new director of human resources. With over a decade of experience, Allison brings a wealth of expertise in strategic leadership, talent acquisition, and employee relations. Most recently, she served as the director of HR Americas at OpSec Security LLC, where Allison led HR functions across the Americas, including mergers and acquisitions, compensation, benefits, and organizational design. Her proven track record in driving high-performance cultures and aligning HR strategies with business goals makes her a valuable addition to the IREGC team. As director of human resources, Allison will oversee talent acquisition, employee engagement, performance management and compliance initiatives. She will also offer support in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, ensuring IREGC remains a workplace for employees to thrive.
Andrew Collier
Pogoda Companies has hired Andrew Collier as vice president of acquisitions. In this role, he will lead the company’s efforts in identifying and executing strategic investment opportunities, both on- and off-market, to support Pogoda’s continued growth. Collier, who studied business administration at St. Joseph’s College and has a strong background in finance and real estate, brings a wealth of experience in acquisitions and underwriting. His expertise in market analysis, financial structuring, and deal execution will play a key role in expanding Pogoda’s portfolio. His data-driven approach and strategic vision will make him a valuable addition to the Pogoda team.
Cyril Pietrafesa
Self-storage owner and developer Storage Deluxe has appointed Cyril Pietrafesa as a partner. Joining Nick Coslov, Steven Guttman, and Steve Novenstein, he’ll lead strategic growth initiatives, focusing on acquisitions and expansions at Storage Deluxe and its affiliate, Uovo.
Pietrafesa, who has experience in private and public market investing as well as investment banking across the real estate, hospitality, and financial-services sectors, began his career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs & Co. He also served as a director of board observer for Boatsetter, Great Wolf Resorts, and Suntex Marinas. Most recently, he was an investment professional at Centerbridge Partners L.P., working across its equity, real estate, and credit funds.
Peter Wisniewski
Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) has hired Peter Wisniewski as its director of investor relations. He is tasked with strengthening investor engagement and forging partnerships to drive long-term growth. Wisniewski, who has more than 10 years of expertise in financial strategy and cross-sector collaboration, most recently worked as a development manager, where he streamlined operations, cultivated relationships within the real estate industry, and expanded the company’s portfolio. As director of investor relations, Wisniewski will lead investor communications, identify growth opportunities, position IREGC as a partner of choice for sustainable initiatives, and develop programs linking investors to innovative projects.
Ryan Stewart
StorageDefender Inc. has announced the appointment of Ryan Stewart as Vice President of Client Success and Growth. In this role, Ryan will focus on driving success for StorageDefender’s growing base of business customers. His responsibilities will include overseeing customer onboarding, training facility partners, and developing best practices that empower operators to maximize their success. His expertise in process-driven strategies and partner engagement will help StorageDefender further enhance its value proposition for self-storage operators.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Ryan to our leadership team. His ability to connect with facility operators, communicate value, and drive performance will be instrumental in further scaling our impact across the industry”, commented Mark Cieri, the CEO of StorageDefender. “With his years of success and well-known positive reputation in the industry, we’re confident that Ryan will play a key role in helping us continue to grow and strengthen our relationships with clients.”
Ryan joins StorageDefender from his last executive post as Vice President at PTI Security Systems, where he had global responsibility for sales and marketing. With seven years of experience in self-storage and leadership, Ryan played a pivotal role in building strong relationships with operators of all sizes. He worked closely with technology vendors, identified emerging market needs, spearheaded innovative approaches, and delivered strategies that elevated the customer experience. His expertise will be invaluable as StorageDefender continues to expand and innovate.
“I’ve had the privilege of watching StorageDefender grow over the years, and it’s been inspiring to see how the company has truly transformed the self-storage industry,” Ryan shared. “I am excited to contribute to the next phase of growth, collaborating with our partners to refine best practices and expand our existing customer base, all while driving meaningful value for our clients.”
Neil Dyer
BlueGate, an affiliate of Madison Capital Group, has promoted Neil Dyer to president as the company continues expanding its portfolio of premium storage solutions for boat and RV owners nationwide. Previously serving as vice president of acquisitions and development, Dyer, who has been with Madison Capital Group for seven years, has been instrumental in executing and launching BlueGate’s platform, which now operates across six states. Prior to joining Madison Capital, he was with CBRE, where he leveraged market intelligence to optimize real estate solutions for clients.
Kevin Bertelsen
Kevin Bertelsen has joined StoragePRO Management as its new vice president of client investment management. A seasoned professional with 37 years of leadership experience in real estate, facility management, CRE, and the military, he most recently spent seven years at CBRE as a managing director, where he oversaw global client accounts. He has an exceptional track record of driving enterprise revenue, optimizing portfolio growth, and enhancing client service operations. His commitment to servant leadership has enabled him to build and lead high-performing teams that deliver exceptional results. Bertelsen holds a bachelor’s degree in business finance from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in organizational development and leadership from Saint Joseph’s University.
Jim Brock
MakoRabco has hired Jim Brock as regional sales manager for its mid-central territory, which includes the states of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. Brock, who has a distinguished career spanning over three decades in commercial construction, began his career as an installer and later became the owner of a successful commercial contracting firm. After selling his business, he transitioned into sales within the commercial building products sector, specializing in pre-engineered metal buildings (PEMB) and self-storage solutions since 2000. His wealth of experience includes notable tenures with industry giants such as American Buildings, MBCI, Kingspan, and Metallic Building Systems.
David Meinecke
Jordan Architects is pleased to announce that it has made David Meinecke a Principal at the firm. Mr. Meinecke has spent nearly 20 years of his career with Jordan Architects and has been an integral part of the team. He joins Bruce Jordan (Principal/CEO) in managing the day-to-day operations. Jordan Architects has been a staple in the self-storage industry for most of its 44-year history. Mr. Meinecke will lead a well-seasoned staff with the continued goal of being at the forefront of innovative self storage design.
Gabriella Miller
The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) recently has hired Gabriella Miller as its corporate recruiter. Miller will be responsible for managing the full recruitment cycle from start to finish, including sourcing, screening, and onboarding new hires. She also will be working on market research and reporting for recruitment efforts. Miller has worked in talent acquisition for 11 years and is familiar with the end-to-end recruitment process. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in communications.
Brian Quibodeaux
Storage Units Capital, a self-storage real estate investment firm, has hired Brian Quibodeaux as an internal wholesaler. Quibodeaux will build and maintain relationships with financial intermediaries and facilitate the strategic expansion of the firm’s sales and distribution effort. He brings approximately a decade of experience in the financial services industry to his role; he previously served an internal wholesaler for CNL Securities in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions, where he helped financial advisors meet the needs of their clients with an array of alternative investments. Prior to CNL, he served as a business account manager specializing in business solutions for a global telecommunications provider. Quibodeaux holds FINRA series 7 and 63 licenses.
Anagerlie “Angie” Pichardo
The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) has hired Anagerlie “Angie” Pichardo as a senior staff accountant. Pichardo will support IREGC’s controller, Kyle Eichelberger, and train and develop staff accountants. She also will maintain financial procedures and confirm financial compliance while building cross-functional relationships throughout the accounting team. Pichardo has over 10 years of experience in financial management, including accounting and process management.
Benny Chung
Hong Kong-based RedBox Storage, which has six self-storage buildings, has appointed Benny Chung as its new CEO. Chung brings a wealth of experience to RedBox, having most recently served as the group head of investment at JustCo Group, where he successfully led initiatives that drove corporate development and asset management strategies across the APAC region. His previous experience includes various leadership roles at Shangri-La Group, where he managed assets exceeding HK$25 billion and oversaw a portfolio of more than 15 assets in South China. He also served as chief of staff at CapitaLand, driving corporate planning and focusing on the operations of CapitaMalls across Asia. Chung is well positioned to drive RedBox’s growth strategy and innovation within the increasingly competitive market.
Dayna Hathaway
Dayna Hathaway has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer at Extra Space Storage (Samrat Sondhi, the former CMO has had a title change to Chief Digital Officer). Dayna has been with Extra Space Storage for 25 years, as one of the first marketing employees at the company. She has been critical in moving the self-storage industry from print to digital marketing, as a first mover in the space. In addition, she played a key role in modernizing the self-storage office design at Extra Space and launching the "wasabi green" brand color. She leads the marketing efforts for the company as well as leading the call-center team.
Grace Kunde
Grace Kunde has been promoted to Chief Accounting Officer at Extra Space Storage. She has been and will continue to be the company's Principal Accounting Officer. Grace has been with Extra Space Storage for 20 years, leading a team of over 100 accountants as she oversees SEC reporting and financial report for Extra Space's 4000 properties. Additionally, Grace has led several committees and companywide projects at Extra Space that have been critical in supporting the growth of the company, as well as expanding the company culture and values.
Stephanie Schmidt
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., recently announced the appointment of Stephanie Schmidt as the company’s new vice president of client service, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Schmidt will succeed Kari DuBois, who is retiring. With nearly 18 years of experience at J. J. Keller, Schmidt has played pivotal roles in account management and service operations. Her expertise in delivering timely, high-quality compliance solutions has been instrumental in the success of J. J. Keller’s Managed Services. Previously serving as the senior director of service operations, Schmidt has consistently demonstrated her commitment to operational excellence, quality and client satisfaction. Schmidt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business/marketing from Marian University in Wisconsin and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Jamie Boros
StorSuite has hired Jamie Boros as a business development manager. Boros, a seasoned self-storage professional with over six years of experience helping owners and operators stay ahead of market trends and exceed their goals, brings her passion for injecting humanity into self-storage solutions to StorSuite’s people-first, service-driven approach. Drawing on her extensive marketing and self-storage background, she works closely with clients to identify the best solutions for their unique needs. She empowers businesses to better connect with tenants and prospects through innovative digital marketing strategies, dynamic website development, tenant engagement, and cutting-edge technology.
Tom Schmitz
Storage Asset Management (SAM) has hired Tom Schmitz to serve as CFO. In this role, he will oversee SAM’s finance, risk, and accounting teams and drive strategies that support the company’s growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Schmitz had nearly 20 years of experience at Beacon Roofing, where he held high-level leadership roles, including vice president and chief accounting officer, vice president and corporate controller, and vice president of finance. He holds a BS degree in accounting from Albright College and a Master of Finance from Penn State Great Valley.
Doug Steverson
Boardwalk Development Group has promoted Doug Steverson to COO. He has played a pivotal role in the company’s exponential growth and success since joining the firm in 2018 as the director of acquisitions. Steverson, who has 20 years of real estate experience, has increased Boardwalk’s portfolio by 600 percent during his tenure. He’s overseen the acquisition and disposition of over $300 million in assets and has been responsible for sourcing new investment opportunities, building vital relationships with owners and sellers, negotiating complex deals, and ensuring successful transactions from inception to closing.
Steverson began his commercial real estate career in 2007 with NAI Brannen Goddard, specializing in industrial tenant and landlord representation and rising through the ranks to become a vice president and a multi-year recipient of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors’ Million Dollar Club. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, he served with the 4th Battalion, 14th Marine Artillery Division. He earned his BBA with a concentration in real estate from Georgia State University post-enlistment, demonstrating his commitment to both service and education.Kylie Haviland-Smith
Kylie is now channeling her talents into specializing in Marketing, Social Media Management, and Human Resources for Haviland Storage Services. Her creative approach, coupled with a strong work ethic, makes her an invaluable asset to the team. As a recent new mom, Kylie deeply values the importance of family, and she’s excited to contribute to the family business that has been a part of her life since childhood. Growing up with her parents "talking shop" around the dinner table, Kylie is no stranger to the storage industry.
Kylie's hardworking and driven nature, paired with her creativity and sense of humor, ensures that she not only meets challenges head-on but also brings a fresh perspective and a bit of fun to the team. Her journey has shaped her into a well-rounded professional, and Haviland Storage Services is excited for the innovation and energy she will bring to the company.
Jamie Lee
Elevate Structures has announced Jamie Lee as the new Northeast Regional Sales Manager. In this role, Jamie will oversee business development activities in ME, VT, NH, NY, MA, CT, and RI. Lee is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years in moving and storage, multi-unit business development, and construction. His addition to the team highlights Elevate Structures' dedication to enhancing technical sales capabilities and strengthening customer relationships. Lee holds a bachelor's degree in business management and leadership from Ripon College and has a proven track record of successfully leading projects and building dynamic teams across various sectors.
"We are excited to welcome Jamie Lee to the Elevate Structures family," said Richard Allen, President of Elevate Structures. "Jamie's extensive experience will be invaluable as we enhance our presence in the Northeast Territory. Our customers can look forward to partnering with a dedicated and highly skilled professional who, along with his regional service team, is committed to delivering exceptional results."
Tom Hughes
Reliant Real Estate Management, a fully integrated owner, operator, and developer of self-storage, under the Midgard Self Storage brand, has hired Tom Hughes, an industry veteran who received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Babson College, as CIO (chief investment officer). He will oversee the investment and growth strategy for the company as it launches its fifth value-add fund and grows the Midgard Self Storage portfolio. Prior to joining Reliant, Hughes spent more than 11 years at Harrison Street as a managing director. During that time, he led the firm’s self-storage investment platform and senior housing platform, closing over $5.2 billion of transactions in the U.S. and Canada. He also worked in the acquisitions group at AEW Capital Management.
Arturo Towns
Central States, a leader in metal building components, roofing, and building systems, announces Arturo Towns has joined the business as Chief People Officer. With a career spanning more than 25 years in Human Resources, Towns brings a wealth of experience in strategy, talent acquisition, and development to Central States as the 100% employee-owned company focuses on engaging employee-owners and advancing success. Towns' career also includes significant leadership roles at brands like Tyson and Simmons Foods, where he focused on safety, training, onboarding, employee engagement, and cultivating company culture.
“My passion for people and commitment to build a culture nobody wants to walk away from perfectly aligns with Central States ‘mission,” Towns said. “By leveraging data to increase awareness, we can influence behaviors and foster a safety-focused and talent development culture.”
“Arturo’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for Central States Inc. as we reinforce our commitment to fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture,” said Jim Sliker, CEO of Central States. “He brings an exceptional blend of strategic vision and a genuine people-first approach to Central States.”
Nick Newcomb
Storage Park Development, Inc., the operating company behind the StorageMax family of properties, has appointed Nick Newcomb as CEO. Newcomb, who has served in various roles with the company since 2013, including 6 years as COO, will succeed Robert L. Lloyd, the founder and previous CEO. Lloyd will continue to serve as the company’s president. As COO, he led the development and acquisition of 13 facilities comprising more than 750,000 square feet, with an additional 120,000 square feet currently under development. Newcomb was recently elected president of the board of directors for the Mississippi Self Storage Owners Association.
Chris Sambar
Chris Sambar, former president and head of networks at AT&T, has joined Public Storage as chief operating officer. Sambar departed AT&T in mid-October after more than two decades at the company. At AT&T, he led the company’s global network infrastructure and was a leading figure in the launch of the FirstNet network, which provides first responders with dedicated coverage and capacity.
Meredith Mears
SVN International Corp. has appointed Meredith Mears, senior advisor for SVN | Miller Commercial Real Estate, as co-chair of the SVN Self Storage Product Council. Mears joins Kristen Wilson-Asman and other council members to further enhance SVN’s presence and expertise in the self-storage real estate sector. Specializing in the purchase and sale of self-storage facilities, Mears has worked with a diverse client base that includes industry equity fund operators, REITs, private owners, and investors. With a strong track record of successfully closing complex sales and leasing deals and participation in single property transactions ranging from $100,000 – $24 million, her robust background is a unique and beneficial asset for her clients. Mears is a member of the Self Storage Association and the Maryland Self Storage Association. She has served in a variety of roles such as regent for the University System of Maryland, board member of Leadership Maryland, board member of the Maryland Economic Development Association, and board member of Maryland Capital Enterprises, among others. In 2020, she was named a Top 100 Woman in the state of Maryland by The Daily Record for her vast contributions in business, community, and mentoring. Her extensive background in commercial real estate makes her a valuable addition to the SVN Self Storage Product Council.
Kim Hoelting
Universal Storage Group (USG) has hired Kim Hoelting as its new vice president of marketing. With over 30 years of marketing experience spanning Fortune 500 and privately held companies, Hoelting brings expertise and innovative ideas to the USG team. Her leadership will play a key role in enhancing the company’s strategy to attract, acquire, and retain self-storage customers, ensuring USG continues to lead with excellence.
Judy Fu
The Inland Real Estate Group, LLC has appointed Judy Fu to the newly created role of senior vice president, chief of staff. Fu will report to Inland CEO and President Tony Chereso.
In this role, she is responsible for managing enterprise-wide projects on behalf of Chereso and facilitating alignment and communication across the executive leadership team. Additionally, she will serve as a trusted advisor, helping to drive Inland’s strategic initiatives, optimizing executive workflows, fostering organizational growth, and providing administrative support to the REITS and their respective board of directors.
Fu joined Inland Mortgage Corporation (IMC) in 2005; during her tenure, she also served as chief compliance officer for IMC’s registered investment advisor subsidiaries. In 2010, she began working for Inland Real Estate Investment Corporation (IREIC), where she served as chief of staff, among other administrative, compliance, and oversight roles. Fu holds FINRA Series 24, 63, 65, and 7 licenses and previously was a licensed managing real estate broker in Illinois. She holds a B.S. degree from Loyola University in Chicago.
Adam Lentz
Go Store It Self Storage has promoted Adam Lentz to chief development officer. With more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate development and nearly a decade dedicated to self-storage, Lentz has consistently demonstrated expertise in identifying and securing prime development opportunities in some of the nation’s highest-barrier markets. Over his self-storage career, he has overseen the development of more than 3 million rentable square feet and nearly 31,000 units, with total project costs exceeding $600 million in top-tier markets, including Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. His experience extends beyond self-storage, having previously led the development of 4,800 multifamily units, representing $1.7 billion in project costs. As chief development officer, Lentz will lead Go Store It’s national development strategy and oversee regional development leadership as the company continues to expand its footprint and execute a growing pipeline of ground-up storage opportunities across the United States.
Cristian Batres
Cristian Batres has joined the MakoRabco sales team focusing on the Florida territory. Batres’ previous experience in self-storage includes U.S. Door Building Components, where he held drafting, sales, and project coordinator positions. He has also worked in sales at Storage Structures and in estimating and international sales at Janus International. Additionally, Batres co-founded the Latin America Self Storage Association and served as its vice president.
Donna Morgan-Esquibel
Donna Morgan-Esquibel has joined the MakoRabco sales team covering the Coastal South territory (Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina). Morgan-Esquibel, who has been in the industry for 33 years, began her storage career at DBCI, before moving into operations running a facility. Since then, she has worked for Mini-Storage Messenger (now MSM), XPS Call Center, and StorageAuctions.com. She currently serves as vice president of the Alabama Self Storage Association (ALSSA).
Steve Cobbs
North Palisade Partners has announced that industry veteran Steve Cobbs will lead self-storage for the firm. Cobbs, who brings with him nearly 30 years of commercial real estate experience, was named managing director of North Palisade Self Storage. Prior to joining the North Palisade team, Cobbs most recently served as a director at Invesco Real Estate, where he was the self-storage sector lead. North Palisade Partners’ Managing Partner Joe Mishurda said, “The self-storage asset class has emerged as a growing aspect of North Palisade’s overall real estate investment portfolio. That growth has led to a need for a sector-specific team to continue building and maintaining our burgeoning portfolio. Steve’s acute focus on the self-storage sector and impressive portfolio-building track record in this asset class, combined with a career that spans nearly three decades, makes him an ideal complement to our team and to lead our self-storage platform.”
Jered Chandler
Central States has named Jered Chandler to the role of first Plant Manager for the company’s new Tooele, Utah manufacturing plant. Chandler will lead the company's newest factory from inception. He has been an employee-owner since 2008 in multiple leadership roles bringing extensive knowledge of Central States’ products, company culture, mission and vision. He steps into this new position after successfully leading the company’s largest manufacturing plant in Lowell, Arkansas for the last eight years. "Jered Chandler's leadership at the Tooele, Utah plant is vital for Central States and our expansion West,” Central States Manufacturing President Tim Ruger said. “His experience, dedication and innovative vision promise to make this new facility successful for our customers and employee-owners. We are incredibly grateful for Jered’s commitment and excited to see the positive impact he will bring to his new team and community."
Jessica Johnson
Jessica Johnson is joining the StorSuite team as the new business development manager. She will be instrumental in driving StorSuite’s growth by identifying new business opportunities, fostering strong client relationships, and spearheading strategic initiatives. Her extensive experience in the self-storage industry, coupled with her operational, marketing, and financial expertise, will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and expand. Johnson most recently served as president of the Storage Business Owners Alliance (SBOA), where she significantly increased the company’s social media following, onboarded new industry-leading service partners, and executed multiple virtual conferences and summits. She’s also served as a member of several key industry committees and boards, including the FSSA and SSA.
Warren Allan
National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA) has appointed Warren Allan to its board. Allan, the co-founder, co-owner of Optivest Properties, LLC, one of NSA’s founding PROs, will also serve on the REIT’s Audit Committee. He also served as Optivest’s president for more than 17 years; until his retirement, he helped Optivest grow its portfolio to over 100 properties under management. Allan was a member of NSA’s PRO Advisory Committee for 10 years, until its dissolution in June 2024. Mark Van Mourick has retired from NSA’s board, effective Aug. 15, 2024.
Jake Smith
Representing the third generation of Smiths, Jake Smith has been named the new director of business development at Personal Mini Storage. With a background in business administration, and a focus on business development and strategic planning, he’ll be responsible for new acquisitions and third-party management growth. Smith previously worked in the senior-housing and single-family build-for-rent industries, where he underwrote more than $150 million in transactions. Personal Mini is currently run by his parents, Marc Smith and Laurie Shader Smith, who serve as president and vice president, respectively. The company was founded by his grandfather, Stan Shader, and his great uncle, Ron Shader.
JC Reed
BlueGate Boat & RV Storage, an affiliate of Madison Capital Group, has named JC Reed as its new COO. Reed brings a wealth of experience to BlueGate, having served as senior vice president of operations at Store Space Self Storage, where he oversaw a multi-state portfolio of 70 locations with over $70 million in revenue. During his tenure, he successfully integrated a new facility management system and played a key role in various operational areas, including revenue management, transitions, and collaboration with marketing and construction teams to foster company growth. Before his time at Store Space, Reed spent 12 years at Public Storage as a senior vice president, overseeing a portfolio of more than 100 locations generating over $100 million in revenue across Washington, Hawaii, and Idaho. He led the operational efforts to establish a career path for store team members to advance to district manager roles.
Scott Shearer
Boardwalk Development Group LLC (BDG), a private-equity investment company focused on self-storage, has appointed Scott Shearer as director of acquisitions. Shearer most recently served as acquisitions lead for OrbVest, a real estate investment firm that focuses on medical-commercial real estate across the United States. He was instrumental in sourcing and closing 16 deals valued at approximately $186 million, the release stated. Shearer has also held positions at BWS Commercial, RCG Ventures LLC, SitusAMC and Trimont Real Estate Advisors, where he honed his skills in financial analysis, underwriting and market research.
“We are thrilled to welcome Scott Shearer to our team,” said Raj Sheth, CEO of BDG. “His experience and track record in acquisitions align perfectly with our growth strategy. Scott's leadership will be invaluable as we continue to expand our portfolio and deliver exceptional value to our investors.”
“I’m excited to join Boardwalk Development Group and contribute to its growth trajectory,” Shearer said. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to drive strategic acquisitions and deliver exceptional value to our stakeholders.”
Vanessa Rovekamp
Vanessa Rovekamp has joined Devon Self Storage as director of marketing. In the last 12 years, she has focused on property management marketing and driving revenue models for large U.S investment firms, and she’s become renowned for her expertise in driving brand growth and engagement through innovative strategies and technology integrations. Rovekamp holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration (BSBA) with a specialization in business administration, marketing, and business management from Indiana Wesleyan University. In addition, she is a professional certified marketer (PCM) through the American Marketing Association and has earned her project management professional (PMP) certification from the Institute of Project Management. Rovekamp also has an associate degree in computer information technology from the University of Cincinnati.
Brandon Ricks
Brandon Ricks is stepping into the role of divisional vice president at Devon Self Storage. He is responsible for overseeing the operations, performance, and strategic direction of multiple regions. Prior to joining Devon, Ricks served as the regional vice president of operations at Life Storage, where he oversaw a portfolio of 200 self-storage locations and led a team of 11 district managers and more than 400 store team members. With a decade-long tenure at Schwan Consumer Brands preceding his transition to the storage industry in 2009, he has demonstrated a consistent commitment to operational excellence and strategic leadership. Known for his hands-on approach and dedication to fostering high-performance teams, Ricks is focused on driving growth and success at Devon Self Storage through innovative strategies and a customer-centric approach.
Max Mehta
The Bledsoe Self-Storage Group of Marcus & Millichap has hired Max Mehta as its financial analyst and transaction coordinator. Mehta was an active member of the Temple Finance Association, as well as an associate analyst for Temple University’s Fox Fund, specializing in corporate valuation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration (finance) from Temple University.
Jovan Marconi
The Inland Real Estate Group, LLC, together with its affiliate companies “Inland,” has appointed Jovan Marconi to CIO. In this role, Marconi is responsible for developing and implementing the IT strategy, including application development, data management, AI practices, cybersecurity, and the evolution of the technology infrastructure for Inland. Marconi joined Inland Real Estate Investment Corporation (Inland Investments) in 2021 as vice president and head of investment system strategies. Prior to joining Inland Investments, he served as head of investment technology at Legal and General Investment Management America. He also held positions with Invesco, AEGON Asset Management, and Mercer Investment Consulting, where he focused on implementing technology platforms, enhancing operational efficiencies, and mitigating business risk. Marconi received his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Northeastern Illinois University and an MBA from DePaul University. He holds certifications as a Professional Scrum Product Owner, Scrum Master, and an IBM certification in Databases and SQL for Data Sciences. Marconi is also a co-founder and member of the board of directors of Out in Finance.
Stacie Maxwell
On The Move has hired Stacie Maxwell as the company’s new director of insurance. An industry veteran, Maxwell leaves behind a 23-year tenure with Universal Storage Group (USG), where she served as vice president of marketing and training. During her time at USG, her contributions were pivotal in the company achieving 13 Facility of the Year awards from MSM and 11 Inside Self Storage Best of Business awards.
At On The Move, Maxwell will be responsible for providing marketing and training programs for the agency, helping to further market On The Move and its services. In addition to her new responsibilities, she will continue to attend industry tradeshows, be a featured speaker at meetings and conferences, and contribute to industry publications—activities she is deeply passionate about, along with her role on the advisory board of the Self-Storage Association Women’s Council.
Tom Esquibel
Tom Esquibel, regional sales manager of MakoRabco, retired at the beginning of this month. He spent five years with the company and 30 years in the industry. He began his self-storage journey in 1994 as an outside sales representative for DBCI. Over the years, he honed his skills and expanded his knowledge, taking on various roles across different companies within the industry. Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit, TEsquibel founded his own steel building company, Diamondback Metal Systems, where he successfully led operations for many years.
He joined Rabco Solutions (now MakoRabco) as a regional sales manager for the Southeast territory in 2019. He will remain a part of the MakoRabco team as a consultant, helping sales managers Jeff Michaels and Chad Gattis as they take over duties in his region.
Adam Willey
Go Store It Self Storage, an affiliate of Madison Capital Group, has hired Adam Willey as its new director of operations. Willey, who joins the company from Extra Space Storage, where he developed industry-leading NOI strategies, achieved top growth year over year, and drove financial, operational, and customer experience strategies, will oversee Go Store It’s portfolio of 100-plus locations and manage the company’s field operations. He also gained valuable experience from his time at Yelp Inc. and Tracx Inc. Willey is a graduate of Florida International University.
Gina Devaney
Central States has named Gina Devaney to the role of vice president of sales. Devaney will focus on maintaining Central States’ service culture as well as leveraging training and development. She has two decades of industry experience growing and managing relationships with key accounts. Devaney’s previous titles include head of sales at Pet-Ag, Inc., director of sales at FoodScience Corporation, and various roles at Pet Retail Brands and Blue Buffalo Co. She has a proven record of leading high performing teams and formulating innovative plans that successfully grow customer bases and build brand image.
Zach Baldwin
Zach Baldwin has been promoted to vice president of operational support at Devon Self Storage. Baldwin boasts an impressive tenure dating back to 2008. He started his journey as an assistant general manager of a Devon property in Michigan. Over the years, he has ascended through the ranks, taking on several diverse roles within Devon Self Storage. In his current role, he is responsible for overseeing key aspects of operations including revenue management, property repairs, integrations of operational systems and vendor relations. Baldwin’s unwavering dedication has contributed significantly to the company's operational success and positioning Devon Self Storage as an industry leader.
Edward "Ed" Gore
Edward “Ed” Gore was recently promoted to vice president of construction at Devon Self Storage. Gore, who has managed nearly 60 ground-up and conversion projects throughout New York City, New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania, brings over 35 years of construction experience to this role. He excels in managing construction teams, forming self-storage divisions, building client relationships, and fostering his project management expertise.
In his current role, he oversees budgetary designs and estimates, reorganizes operational systems, collaborates with asset management, and mentors regional construction managers.
Gore’s engineering expertise, analytical skills, organizational prowess, and dedication ensures successful navigation through the Inland-Devon merger, while enhancing the construction group's capabilities.
David W. Collins
Store Space Self Storage has promoted David W. Collins, a 17-year storage veteran, to president and COO. Previously serving as chief marketing officer, Collins will oversee the company’s daily operations, as well as the implementation of the company’s strategic vision to grow its footprint and increase value for investors. He joined the company in 2023 and has overseen or materially influenced the launch of the company’s new website, property management system, and Speed-e-Rent, the platform’s e-sign technology—all of which have contributed to significant gains in operational efficiency and streamlined the customer experience. Prior to Store Space, Collins was responsible for creating and deploying Public Storage’s mobile website, eRental platform, mobile app, and others as director of interactive marketing and vice president of marketing.
Anne (Williams) Blackwell
Industry veteran and self-storage broker Anne (Williams) Blackwell has joined EquiCap Commercial as a partner. Based out of EquiCap’s new Memphis, Tenn. office, she will continue to focus on self-storage investment sales and advisory services in the southeast. Blackwell has served the self-storage industry for 24 years in many different capacities. She began her career on the acquisitions team at Storage USA (now Extra Space Storage) and later transitioned to operations, where she managed a 15-property portfolio in Memphis. She transitioned from operations to brokerage in 2006 when she opened the Memphis office for Marcus & Millichap. Blackwell has successfully brokered more than 150 self-storage transactions. She’s an active member and board member of the Tennessee Self Storage Association and the Mississippi Self Storage Owners Association as well as a member of the Louisiana Self Storage Association.
Robert “Bobby” Bloch
Marcus & Millichap has hired veteran self-storage broker Robert “Bobby” Bloch as senior vice president at the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Bloch will focus on self-storage investment property acquisitions and dispositions on behalf of clients. He has 30 years of investment sales, management, and business development experience.
Previously with Cushman & Wakefield, Bloch specializes in self-storage acquisition and dispositions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States. He has completed over $800 million in self-storage investment property sales since 2013 on behalf of private investors, real estate investment trusts, and institutional-level funds and firms.
Chuck Mills
Finance veteran Chuck Mills is serving as president of a newly launched National Self-Storage Group of Chicago Title National Commercial Services California. Mills brings 40 years of finance experience, encompassing loan origination, financial consulting, and venture capital. He has financed more than 500 self-storage loans totaling more than $2 billion. He can be reached at Chuck.Mills@ctt.com and (949) 230-1233.
Martin Huff
DXD Capital recently appointed Martin Huff as its director of investor relations. He will work with the company’s growing network of investors who seek fund and direct-investment opportunities within the industry. Huff previously served as a principal with The Cotton Cos., and director of operations for Morning View Communities. He also spent nine years at The Johnson Group, where he oversaw the development of more than 65 ground-up self-storage projects totaling more than $800 million. Huff earned a bachelor’s degree from Wofford College.
Quint Seidel
The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC), which operates the Moove In Self Storage brand, has named Quint Seidel as its data analyst. In this position, he will analyze data for future acquisitions and developments and assist with accounting functions.
Cathleen “Cassie” M. Hrtanek
The Inland Real Estate Group, LLC has appointed Cathleen “Cassie” M. Hrtanek to COO.
Hrtanek, who joined Inland in 2005 as assistant counsel in its law department, will be responsible for Inland’s human resources, information technology, risk management, communications, marketing, and purchasing. In addition, she will continue to serve as the corporate secretary of many Inland member companies and a board member of various Inland member companies. She will report to Tony Chereso, CEO and president of Inland.
In the Inland Law Department, she most recently held the titles of Associate General Counsel and Senior Vice President. Prior to Inland, Hrtanek had several years of experience at Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon LLP, a private law firm practice in Chicago. She has been admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois and holds a B.A. in political science and French from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Kevin Friedman
Argus Self Storage Advisors has hired Kevin Friedman as its broker affiliate representative for Michigan. Friedman, owner and principal broker of Hayes Ventures LLC in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., has been transacting in the self-storage sector for over a decade. He specializes in the acquisition, disposition, and valuation of self-storage properties of all types and sizes. Prior to forming Hayes Ventures, he served as the vice president of acquisitions for SmartStop Self Storage REIT, where he sourced and closed more than $500 million of transactions. Friedman who earned a BSBA from the University of Denver, is a CCIM.
Brandon Lavern
SkyView Advisors has announced promotions within its executive team. Brandon Lavern, a seasoned leader at the firm, will take on the role of mentor within the senior leadership team.
David Kuper
SkyView Advisors has announced promotions within its executive team. David Kuper is now serving as vice president in healthcare real estate.
Kara Svendson
SkyView Advisors has announced promotions within its executive team. Kara Svendson was promoted to the position of vice president of self-storage investment sales.
Codey Dalton
SkyView Advisors has announced promotions within its executive team. Codey Dalton was promoted to the position of vice president of self-storage investment sales.
Kevin Harless
Storage Authority, operator of 31 self-storage facilities nationwide, has promoted Kevin Harless from franchise director to director of development. In his new role, Harless will be responsible for guiding new franchise owners through the development process. Harless has more than 15 years of self-storage industry experience in development, technology, and property acquisitions. Before joining Storage Authority, Harless was the marketing-company president of U-Haul Co. of North Texas. “Kevin’s over 15 years of experience at U-Haul and [in] self-storage consulting brings incredible value to our franchisees,” said Marc Goodin, president of Storage Authority.
Kyle Burlage
The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC), which operates the Moove In Self Storage brand, hired Kyle Burlage as senior investment analyst. Burlage will assist in guiding the company’s financial strategy by analyzing past performance and modeling potential acquisitions, evaluating commercial real estate financing requests, conducting collateral analysis, assessing marketing conditions, and identifying risks. Prior to this position, Burlage was self-storage development associate for Madison Capital Group LLC and a self-storage investment analyst for real estate firm Marcus & Millichap.
“Kyle comes to us with a wealth of experience and knowledge that I am confident will enhance our financial and investment strategies,” said Jack Fritsche, chief financial officer for IREGC. “He will play a pivotal role at IREGC. I look forward to seeing him grow and lead this organization forward.
Cydney L'Hoste
Cydney L’Hoste, Elevate Structures’ current director of pre-construction and former construction project manager, will take responsibility as the regional director of business development for the company’s Atlantic Sales Territory. Her knowledge in value engineering, design, and pricing, as well as managing physical construction in the field, gives her the expertise our customers can rely upon when building. “With a positive outlook, natural advocacy for our customers, and deep experience, we believe Cydney is uniquely positioned to support customers from concept to completion,” says Elevate Structures President Richard Allen. “She will replace Kevin [Neal] in this role, [who is resigning], and they will partner to create a seamless customer transition.”
Brent Morris
Pablo Caballeros
StoragePRO Management, Inc., has named Pablo Caballeros as its new vice president of operations. In this new role, Caballeros is responsible for managing the strategic direction of all store operations, including training and developing the operations team across various geographic areas and P&L management for all properties in the portfolio. He will serve as the as the bridge between the Operations Team and the store owners. His 18-plus years of experience in the self-storage industry includes various management roles with Public Storage and StorQuest. Caballeros earned a Master of Business Administration from Cal State Northridge.
Lesslie Ray
Lesslie’s background includes investment management, directing private and public market capital transactions, and overseeing operations. Prior to Morningstar, she served as CEO for Greenway Wealth Management, a single-family office. She was also involved in private investment opportunities, wholly-owned operating businesses, and major recapitalization projects. Additionally, Lesslie has worked in banking for JPMorgan Chase & Company focused on real estate.
Bob Dunworth
Bob Dunworth has assumed the position of Morningstar Storage Senior Vice President of Storage Operations, where he will oversee the strategic planning and day to day operations of the storage portfolio, as well as directing the company's revenue management and business analytics efforts. Prior to this, Bob played a pivotal role at Morningstar as Vice President of Performance/Pricing and as a Regional Manager in the Marina division.After spending nine years as a logistics officer in the United States Air Force, Bob went on to assume numerous leadership roles in civilian plant and warehouse management, focusing on continuous improvement and data-driven initiatives in high tempo, high volume operations.
Adrienne Zimmer
StoragePRO Management, Inc., has named Adrienne Zimmer as its new vice president of finance and accounting. She’s responsible for all long-range financial matters; establishing company-wide financial and administrative objectives, policies, programs, and practices; directing the company’s accounting practices; and maintaining relationships with lending institutions, shareholders, and the financial community. Zimmer, who has over 20 years of financial and operational experience in commercial, homebuilding, and multifamily real estate, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and earned an MBA from St. Mary’s College. She’s also a certified public accountant (CPA).
Chuck Mills
Chicago Title National Commercial Services California has hired Chuck Mills as Vice President of National Sales. He will head the company's new initiative, the Chicago Title National Self-Storage Group. Mills brings to the table nearly 40 years of finance experience including loan origination, financial consulting, and venture capital.Mills earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate and Finance from the University of Arkansas and holds a California real estate broker license. He has played a role in over $10 billion worth of commercial loans across various sectors, including multifamily, retail, industrial, office and hospitality. In 2000, Mills got started in the self-storage sector and since then, he has financed more than 500 self-storage loans totaling over $2 billion. He is also an active member of various industry associations, including the national Self Storage Association (SSA), California Self Storage Association (CSSA), Arizona Self-Storage Association (AZSA) and Texas Self Storage Association (TSSA).
Thomas Vaughn
SteelBlue has hired Thomas Vaughn, who as more than 20 years of manufacturing experience, as general manager of operations. “His expertise will be crucial as we commission three new pieces of roll-form equipment, which will vastly improve our lead times, consistency in our products, and add new capacity to keep pace with our ever-growing company,” said Rich Saginaw, CEO and president of SteelBlue.
Raju Ruparelia
StorHub Group, which operates self-storage facilities in Asia and Australia, has announced that Raju Ruparelia has joined the company as CEO. Ruparelia succeeds Mike Hagbeck, Storhub's Co-founder and its previous CEO for the last five years. Ruparelia has more than two decades of experience driving business growth and transformation. He previously served as Senior Managing Director and Head of APAC Private Capital at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, overseeing the firm’s direct private equity investing activities across the region, including its real estate related investments. Read more.
Josh Grove
The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC), which specializes in self-storage construction and management and operates the Moove In Self Storage brand, has hired Josh Grove as Senior Staff Accountant. In this role, he’ll train and develop additional accountants, maintain financial procedures, prepare reports and financial statements, and ensure financial compliance, according to a press release.
“Josh’s comprehensive understanding of financial procedures will positively impact the accounting team,” Accounting Manager Kyle Eichelberger said. “We look forward to the valuable contributions he will make at IREGC as we advance our business goals.”
Shimon Kanter
Real estate investment and development firm Madison Capital Group has named Shimon Kanter as Vice President of Development for its subsidiary, Go Store It! Self Storage. He’ll be responsible for sourcing and developing projects in the Northeast. Kanter has nearly a decade of self-storage experience. Before joining Madison, he was vice president of development and construction for Store Space Self-Storage. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Development for Poverni Sheikh Group, spearheading the company’s self-storage development platform. “We are excited to welcome Shimon to our team,” said Madison CEO Ryan Hanks. “His proven track record will be crucial in driving our national expansion efforts.”
Ahmed Abdelaal
Ahmed Abdelaal
Central States has named Ahmed Abdelaal to the new role of Vice President of Engineering and Operations for the Central States Building Works division. Ahmed will lead the group’s technical services including engineering, drafting, and detailing and will bring his know-how in automation, software, operations, and manufacturing to the business as preparations are made for the company’s new frame plant, planned to open in Springdale, Arkansas in the Spring of 2025.
Ahmed brings almost three decades of industry experience working for some of the largest Pre-Engineered Metal Building (PEMB) companies in the United States and internationally. He comes to Central States after spending the initial 11 years of his career at American Buildings Company (now Nucor) and Butler Manufacturing Company (now BlueScope Steel), where he held leadership positions in engineering and project management. For the last 12 years, Ahmed has served global companies by building out factories and technical capabilities in executive operations roles.
“We are excited to welcome Ahmed to the team," said Jennifer Davis, President of Central States Building Works. "He has an outstanding track record driving technical excellence, assembling high-performing teams, and leading growth in the metal buildings industry.”
Melissa Eobbins & Derrick Harris
Spartan Investment Group, a Colorado-based privately held real estate investment firm specializing in the self-storage industry, has announced that FreeUp Storage, the national banner under which Spartan manages its 62-property portfolio, has hired Melissa Robbins as the Vice President of Marketing and Derrick Harris as the Vice President of Operations. In her new role as Vice President of Marketing, Robbins will direct the brand’s marketing strategy. As the Vice President of Operations, Harris will continue the growth of the company’s infrastructure across various business units. READ MORE
Jigisha Desai & Scott Deakin
Central States, Inc.has announced the appointment of Jigisha Desai and Scott Deakin to its board of directors. Desai is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Strategy Officer of Granite Construction Company. Deakin is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gypsum Management & Supply, Inc. Their election brings the number of Central States Directors to six as the 100% employee-owned company leverages outside ideas and thought partnerships to positively impact its employee owners. READ MORE.
Robbie Smith
Drive-Up Storage has hired Robbie Smith as the new executive vice president of self-storage. With more than 20 years of experience in customer service and client facing roles, including serving as director of special accounts at Storage Asset Management (SAM), Smith brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Drive-Up Storage. As executive vice president, he will oversee the Drive-Up Storage team, manage day-to-day operations across the portfolio, optimize property performance, and spearhead the expansion into third-party management. “[Robbie's] extensive experience and proven track record in the self-storage industry make him the perfect fit for our company as we continue to grow and expand our property management division," said Chris Spagnuolo, Drive-Up Storage’s executive vice president of property management.
Hal H. Tanner, III
Hal H. Tanner, III, a licensed real estate professional for Midcoast Properties, Inc., has been elected to the North Carolina Self Storage Association (NCSSA) Board of Directors. Tanner, who’s been with Midcoast Properties since 2020, has more than 30 years of business experience, including executive leadership roles that have contributed to his success in the commercial real estate field. Throughout his career, he has served on numerous industry and local community boards in leadership positions. Eager to share his experience, knowledge, and relationships with NCSSA members, Tanner’s also committed to the board’s mission of continuously improving the value NCSSA members receive from the association. An avid hunter and fisherman, Tanner resides in Goldsboro, N.C., with his family and two dogs. He can be reached at Hal@MidcoastProperties.com.
Chimane Boyd
The Tennessee Self Storage Association recently recognized Chimane Boyd for her exceptional contributions that have enhanced the performance and customer service standards at the facility she manages by presenting her with its 2023 Property Manager of the Year award. Boyd, who serves as the property manager for Citizen Storage Management’s Titus Road facility in Memphis, Tenn., exceeds the award criteria by demonstrating “outstanding commitment to leadership, creativity, operational efficiency, and community involvement.” Under Boyd’s management, the facility has experienced revenue growth and maintained high occupancy rates and low delinquency rates.
Alex Zhou
SpareBox Storage, sponsored by Rizk Ventures, recently hired Alex Zhou as its vice president of revenue management and marketing. He was recruited by Real8 Group, a national real estate and self-storage executive search firm. Zhou, who most recently served as vice president of revenue management and data science at Simply Self Storage, will help SpareBox expand by maximizing revenue and analyzing opportunities.
Matt Rundall
SpareBox Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rizk Ventures, has appointed Matt Rundall as chief technology officer. Rundall brings a wealth of IT and technology experience to the new company.
Jackson Stevens
SpareBox Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rizk Ventures, has appointed Jackson Stevens as CEO. He most recently spent more than three years as director of operations at SpareBox Storage, where he helped successfully develop and implement tech-focused management solutions. Stevens will now lead SpareBox Technologies in bringing these solutions to self-storage owners, operators, and managers nationwide.
“It is a privilege to embark on this new chapter with SpareBox Technologies and to have the opportunity to continue to build upon the strong foundation we established at SpareBox Storage,” said Stevens. “It's time to bring the self-storage industry into the future, and I know that SpareBox Technologies will have a prominent role in doing so.”
Scott Worden
Scott Worden has joined StorSuite as director of business development and co-founder of the company. He will be responsible for driving the company’s growth by identifying new business opportunities, developing and maintaining strong relationships with clients, and spearheading strategic partnerships. Prior to StorSuite, he was the director of business development for CallPotential. Before that he served as business development representative for PTI Security Systems and business development manager at OpenTech Alliance.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Scott to the StorSuite team. His extensive knowledge and experience in the self-storage industry will play a pivotal role in supporting our growth initiatives,” says Christina Alvino, founder of FineView Marketing and StorSuite CEO and Co-founder.
“I am excited to join the innovative StorSuite team and look forward to leveraging our collective expertise to foster stronger owner relationships within the industry. Together, we will pioneer new avenues of growth and create lasting value for our partners and clients,” says Worden.
Jacob Copper
Following Terry Campbell’s retirement this week, Jacob Copper will take over as the new CEO of Copper Storage Management (CSM) on Feb. 2. Copper, who earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and a master’s degree from North Carolina State University, most recently spent three years as a business-recruitment manager for Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
“Copper Storage Management has achieved remarkable success under Terry’s leadership, and I am honored to build upon that legacy as the new CEO,” Copper said. “I am excited to work with our exceptional team to drive the next phase of our growth, delivering innovative solutions and unparalleled service to our customers as we continue to elevate the standards of the industry.”
Matt Clark
Matt Clark, StorSafe’s director of operations, has been elected to the Illinois Self Storage Association’s (ILSSA) board of directors. During the two-year term, Clark will play pivotal role in advocating for and advancing the self-storage industry within Illinois by addressing the specific needs of the state’s self-storage community. His responsibilities will include lobbying for positive changes in the industry, informing professionals about key state-level issues, and contributing to the overall growth and development of the self-storage sector.“Matt’s vast experience and deep commitment to the self-storage industry make him an invaluable asset not only to our team but to the broader community. His leadership and vision will be instrumental in driving forward both legislative and operational advancements,” said Tom Bretz, StorSafe CEO.
Zackary Nagel
William Hyatt
Jon Montgomery
Investment Real Estate, LLC has brought in Jon Montgomery as Revenue Manager. Jon has a Master's Degree in Accounting and continues to grow his analytical skills by taking courses in DAX coding and Power BI. "We are grateful to have his knowledge and experience on the team," IRE wrote on their LinkedIn announcement.
Tom Kilko Jr.
Investment Real Estate, LLC has promoted Tom Kilko, Jr. from Development & Construction Manager to Director of Construction & Development. "Tom has shown a tremendous amount of leadership and innovative thinking which has made him an integral part of the construction team," wrote IRE on their LinkedIn page.
Neal Gussis
Neal Gussis has been named Executive Director of Strat Property Management Inc.'s new capital markets division, SPMI Capital. Neal will be responsible for securing debt and equity for the SPMI’s privately owned portfolio and providing loan-advisory services to other self-storage investors. Most recently, Neal served as co-founding principal at CCM Commercial Mortgage providing debt and equity solutions for commercial real estate investment clients nationwide, with a focus on self storage. “As we have grown our real estate portfolio during the past 25 years, we have consistently looked to Neal and his companies to secure debt for us. Since the early 1990s, we have relied on his group to source debt on countless self-storage transactions and, together, we have experienced and navigated through several capital market cycles,” said Don Clauson, CEO of SPMI. “It is an honor to have him as part of our SPMI team and to launch our new SPMI Capital division.” Neal is a frequent contributor to Modern Storage Media.
Scott Sebring
Highline Storage Partners, an affiliate of Highline Real Estate Partners, has hired storage veteran Scott Sebring as COO. Sebring, who has 20 years of self-storage operating experience, previously served as vice president of operations at Simply Self Storage, where he was integral to building the operating business from its acquisition by Brookfield for $750 million to its sale to Blackstone and National Storage Affiliates for $2.5 billion just four years later. He continued his operations leadership with Blackstone from its purchase of Simply in 2020 for $1.25 billion through its sale to Public Storage in 2023 for $2.2 billion. Prior to Simply, Sebring spent 13 years at Public Storage, starting as district manager and ending as divisional vice president, where he oversaw 270 stores and led a team of 500 people in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Scott Levy
Highline Storage Partners, an affiliate of Highline Real Estate Partners, has hired storage veteran Scott Levy as CIO. Levy brings 17 years of self-storage experience and 20 years of real estate experience to Highline. He was most recently executive vice president of investments at Simply Self Storage, where he ran external growth initiatives and executed $475 million of acquisitions in two years. Before Simply, Levy spent 15 years with CubeSmart Self Storage, where he was senior vice president of investments, in addition to holding various other roles within the corporate finance and asset management functions. Scott has executed over $5 billion of self-storage acquisition, disposition, development, and joint venture transactions throughout his career.
Chris Riley, Jr.
The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) has promoted Chris Riley, Jr., to asset manager. In January, Riley began working at IRE as an asset project manager; he’ll now be responsible for overseeing and managing the company’s capital expenditures program, including developing and executing comprehensive asset management strategies, ensuring the efficient utilization of resources, and the timely execution of all capital expenditures across the Moove In Self Storage portfolio.
Lisa Ritt
The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) has promoted Lisa Ritt to facilities services manager. Ritt, who joined IRE as the facilities and construction coordinator nine months ago, will be responsible for the management, enhancement, and maintenance of IRE’s headquarters as well as providing assistance with the capital expenditure process for all new and existing Moove In Self Storage locations.
Jessica Mania
Real estate investment veteran Jessica Mania has been hired by Colliers Mortgage, the debt financing arm of Colliers. Prior to joining, Mania, vice president of research and marketing, spent 2.5 years as the director of research and marketing at George Smith Partners (GSP), where she led the research department in providing due diligence and market intelligence integral to all transactions and spearheaded the firm’s marketing efforts that led to GSP being one of the most recognized commercial real estate brands in Los Angeles.
Tommy Adelson
Colliers Mortgage, the debt financing arm of Colliers, has hired real estate investment veteran Tommy Adelson. Adelson, vice president of transactions, brings more than a decade of real estate debt and equity experience to his position. He most recently served as a director at Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), where he sourced and closed permanent, construction, and bridge debt, as well as preferred and joint venture equity. Adelson’s previous experience was gained as vice president at George Smith Partners.
Nick Anderson
Nick Anderson has joined the Lindsey Self Storage Group as a broker in the firm’s Minnesota office. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with engineering and mathematics degrees, then spent five years selling multi-million-dollar electrical systems in the utility space. Anderson, who has experience facilitating self-storage and real estate transactions, uses attention to detail and a numbers-oriented approach to drive informed decisions for his clients. He can be reached at nick@lindseyselfstoragegroup.com.
Derrick Girouard
Great American Storage, a developer/operator of boat and RV, condo and traditional self-storage facilities, has hired Derrick Girouard as director of construction. He’ll oversee all new development and expansion projects for the company’s national portfolio. Girouard has more than a decade of construction experience and has managed the development of more than 1 million square feet of self-storage, exceeding a total value of $56 million. He was previously the director of construction operations for self-storage development firm DXD Capital. Prior to that, he was a project manager for JEM Group LLC, a general contracting firm. Additionally, Girouard is a combat veteran. During his service, he was a firefighter and medic. “We're thrilled to welcome Derrick to the Great American Storage team,” said CEO David Gandolfo. “His extensive construction experience, leadership capabilities and dedication to excellence will be invaluable as we continue expanding our national footprint.”
Brad Koch
Brad Koch has joined 10 Federal as Vice President of Development. With over 20 years of experience, Brad brings a wealth of expertise to lead the development and construction teams. Prior to joining 10 Federal, Brad served as the Vice President of Development at Brookfield Properties, where he successfully developed residential MPCs, multifamily, and SFR communities. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from George Mason University.
Cody Lopez
Cody Lopez has become MakoRabco’s new regional sales manager for the Southwest territory. Lopez joins the sales team after serving as a project manager for the company since 2019. He has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Greenville University and an MBS in project management from Ashford University.
“My construction management experiences over the past six years have prepared me to work alongside our developer partners to help their plans become reality,” says Lopez. “I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with our clients. The mentorship I have received from Mako’s founder leaders Caesar, James, and Robert, and our current executive leadership team, has given me a deep appreciation for our clients and their needs. I’m honored to continue in their legacy of a focused approach to relationships, providing high-quality customer service, and executing on our vision of being the best metal building option for the storage industry.”
Nick Maslauski
Nick Maslauski has been promoted to vice president of acquisitions and strategic analytics at StorSafe Self Storage. A distinguished alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Maslauski has streamlined the self-storage underwriting process for StorSafe through the integration of technology and automation. He was also instrumental in assisting StorSafe’s acquisitions team with the closure of two acquisitions this year. Prior to joining StorSafe, Maslauski was with Ameritus, where his contributions resulted in the acquisition of more than $67 million in property value.
StorSafe CEO Tom Bretz says, “Nick brings a wealth of expertise, innovative strategies, and a transformative approach that resonates with our core values and vision. Nick’s remarkable ability to leverage technology and automation in refining the underwriting process is instrumental in accelerating our acquisitions and facilitating seamless transactions. We’re excited about him driving StorSafe’s mission to deliver exceptional value to our investors and continuous advancements in the self-storage industry.”
Jim Reinhart
MakoRabco has appointed Jim Reinhart as Chief Executive Officer. In the construction industry, Mr. Reinhart has distinguished himself through executive leadership roles, notably as the COO of QTS Realty Trust, a premier REIT in the data center sector. Previously, Mr. Reinhart was CEO and President of The Ygrene Energy Fund and National Credit Care. For over twenty years, he has worked with investors and private equity sponsors and has elevated portfolio company performance by building industry-leading capabilities. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Mr. Reinhart holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Masters in microelectronics from University of Maryland.
Dixie Zuger
Boardwalk Development Group LLC (BDG), a private-equity investment company focused on self-storage, has promoted Dixie Zuger to director of development and asset management. Zuger joined the company six years ago as an assistant property manager, then became an area manager. As director of operations, she oversaw a team of 22 property managers and 26 self-storage facilities. Zuger has been instrumental in BDG’s growth and staff development. She specializes in employee training and company procedures.
Virginia “Ginny” Thress
The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) has hired Virginia “Ginny” Thress as the company’s new human resources manager. Thress earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from Alvernia University. She’s also certified by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). She has worked as an HR coordinator for a wide variety of companies and teaches at her alma mater as an adjunct professor.
As HR manager, Thress will manage compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, ensure the accurate and timely payment of employees, and guarantee effective management of the company’s benefits program.
Doug Steverson
Doug Steverson, president of self-storage private-equity investment company Boardwalk Development Group LLC (BDG), has been named to the executive leadership team of Contractors, Closers & Connections (CCC). Steverson, who joined the firm in 2018 as director of acquisitions, was promoted to BDG president last month. He’s helped the company increase its real estate holdings by 600 percent and has been instrumental in the acquisition and disposition of more than $300 million in assets. Steverson began his career in commercial real estate in 2007 as an associate with brokerage firm NAI Brannen Goddard. Steverson, a former U.S. marine, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia State University.
Ibrahim Shamsi
Ibrahim Shamsi has assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer at Supply Side, a division of the Supply Side Group. In this role, he will be dedicated to furthering our organization’s mission through strategic management, operational expertise, and diligent stewardship. "I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Ansir Junaid, Chairman and CEO of Supply Side Group, for his unwavering trust and inspiring leadership throughout my career," says Shamsi.
David Allan
Apple Self Storage has announced the promotion of David Allan who will become the company's new president, taking over the position from Scott Allan effective October 1st 2023. David joined Apple Self Storage in 2014 and has been instrumental in the growth of the company that has seen square footage owned and managed more than quadruple over the last decade, positioning Apple Self Storage as one of the largest self storage providers in Canada. He is a respected industry leader and has been helping shape and direct the self storage industry in Canada and internationally. David also became a part owner of Apple Self Storage Management in 2018.
Beau Agnello
Go Store It has hired Beau Agnello as Chief Operating Officer. Agnello will leverage more than a decade of experience within the storage industry to lead GSI’s execution as a premier operator. With a focus on innovation, Agnello will bring key initiatives to support the next phase of GSI’s best-in-class performance. Agnello joins GSI from a privately held self-storage owner operator in the Midwest where he served as Head of Operations and Senior Vice President. Agnello also previously held a senior leadership role as Divisional Vice President at Extra Space Storage.
Kate Matheny
SpareBox Storage, the leading remote-managed operator in the self-storage industry, today appointed industry veteran, Kate Matheny as Chief Executive Officer. Matheny was previously Chief Financial and Chief Investment Officer of the Company and prior to this, was chief financial officer of an operator of self-storage properties with a 200-store portfolio in the Midwest and Southeast. Matheny, along with new COO Chuck James, have a long track record of successfully building value in the self-storage industry. Together, Matheny and James pioneered the use of automated storage operations. "I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to work closely with Kate – as well as our entire management team – for a long time and she is a world-class operator and leader with a dedicated track record of delivering success for a wide array of stakeholders," said James.
Chuck James
SpareBox Storage, the leading remote-managed operator in the self-storage industry, today appointed industry veteran and company co-founder Chuck James as President and Chief Operating Officer. James had been serving as Chief Executive Officer, a role that Kate Matheny, previously CFO, will now take on. James, together with Matheny, pioneered the use of automated storage operations. The Company is a joint venture between investment funds advised by Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP and Rizk Ventures. "Kate and Chuck are recognized leaders in the self-storage industry and we look forward to the future of the Company under their leadership," said Tom Rizk, chairman and founder of Rizk Ventures. "We believe in the dual growth strategy of consolidating high growth and underserved markets, and developing a best-in-class technology offering that will be rolled out across the broader industry. It’s an exciting time for SpareBox."
Chris Runckel
InSite Property Group has hired Chris Runckel as president of operations. Runckel, who has more than 30 years of experience in operations management, strategic planning, team leadership, and business development, will guide SecureSpace’s national expansion plan to add more than 30 facilities to the company’s portfolio through acquisition and development. He’ll also enhance existing scalable systems and processes, focus on long-term growth, and cultivate the company’s culture. Prior to joining SecureSpace, Runckel was COO of Andover Properties (Storage King USA brand) and held leadership positions with Life Storage Inc. for more than a decade.
Peter Spickenagel
Peter Spickenagel, CEO of Citizen Storage Management, was elected as chairman and president of the Self StorageAssociation of Michigan (SSAM) on Aug. 16, 2023, along with six SSAM board members for the 2023 to 2024 term.
Spickenagel has overseen operations for more than 95 storage facilities across the U.S. totaling 5.3 million rentable
square feet and 40,000-plus units. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences, providing advice on revenue
management, operational best practices, creative marketing, and the latest technology trends.
Garrett Markey
The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) has hired Garrett Markey as a senior financial analyst. Markey will be responsible for financial planning and budgeting processes, as well as analyzing financial statements for risk and opportunities and preparing projections for the company’s leadership and investors. Prior to joining IREGC, Markey worked as a financial analyst for a development company, where he prepared financial models and presentations and interpreted data for risks and trends. He received his bachelor’s degree in international business and management from Dickinson College.
Molly Welby
On Aug. 21, the Investment Real Estate Group of Companies (IREGC) announced the promotion of Molly Welby tomarketing brand manager. Welby, who joined IREGC in May 2022 as the marketing coordinator, will be responsible for
developing, implementing, and executing strategic marketing plans. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from
University of Maryland.