Stories Behind the Door

I sit down with Marc Goodin, CEO and President of Storage Authority, to pull back the curtain on one of the most successful franchise models in the self-storage industry. Marc isn't just a developer; he's a civil engineer who has spent four decades learning exactly what makes a facility succeed. He shares why he decided to stop "retiring" and instead start helping other professionals build wealth...

How do you transition from a "stay-at-home mom" opportunity to becoming a senator for the SSA Young Leaders Group and a director at a top management firm? This week, Thaddeus Campbell talks with Sydnie Wilda, RV & Boat Development Director at The Storage Manager. Sydnie shares her powerful journey of overcoming personal adversity by choosing to be a "survivor" rather than a victim—a mindset she ha...

How do you grow from 21 management contracts to nearly 600 while keeping a "small-town" culture of caring? Join Thaddeus Campbell as he speaks with Alyssa Quill, CEO of Storage Asset Management (SAM), the nation's largest independent third-party management firm. Alyssa shares her 21-year journey through the industry, including her time at StorageUSA and Extra Space, and the pivotal phone call from...

What does it take to build a construction company that thrives for over 30 years? According to Wayne Woolsey, President and CEO of Kiwi II Construction, it's simple: You have to be willing to "cook the meal" instead of microwaving it. In this episode, Wayne joins Thaddeus Campbell to share his journey from retrofitting public storage facilities after the Northridge earthquake to leading one of the...

I talk to Rob Kapp, President of Keep It Simple Storage, about his path from a "get rich slow game" entrepreneur to the inventor of the revolutionary KISS Lock. Rob's story is one of hard-won success: he committed to a multi-decade journey, even selling his home to reinvest in real estate . His burnout from managing facilities led to the idea for the KISS Lock, a smart lock with no batteries that'...

I'm honored to share the deeply personal and inspirational story of MMA Pro-Fighter, "Hurricane" Shane Burgos. Shane's journey to the UFC octagon wasn't just about physical skill; it was a testament to mental grit and commitment, starting when he was a teenager . Key Insights from Shane: Burning the Boats: Shane had no backup plan, committing fully to fighting and purposely getting kicked off his...

I talk with Kevin Bledsoe, President of The Bledsoe Storage Group at Marcus & Millichap, about his transition from operations to brokerage and his outlook on the 2026 self-storage market. Kevin's story is one of hard work, he started by installing gate controllers and sweeping storage units before becoming a Director of Operations for major firms like Simply Self Storage. This deep operational kno...

I sit down with Ben Vestal, CEO of Argus Self Storage Advisors, to discuss his incredible two-decade run in the industry, the recent SmartStop acquisition of his management platform, and what's next for the self-storage space. Ben shares how his brokerage business has always focused on the chase and complicated deals but stresses the importance of camaraderie and the willingness of high-level ment...

I'm joined by Tim Ryan, MAI, Senior Vice President at Newmark, to get a definitive, data-backed look at the self-storage market. Tim's career journey is fascinating, from his days at  Syracuse University pursuing sports broadcasting to becoming a commercial appraiser and a leader on Newmark's National Self Storage Team . Tim gives an insider's perspective on the challenges of appraising during the...

I have a truly inspiring conversation with Rona Siegel, National Director of Third Party Management at The William Warren Group/StoreQuest. Rona shares her "by chance" entry into the self-storage world 10 years ago and how the company's "lifestyle brand" energy, embodied by founder Bill Hoban, hooked her . Rona is not just a high-level executive; she's a three-time New York Marathon runner and a f...

Join me for a powerful and deeply personal conversation with Dayo Adebayo, Founder of DP Capital Partners. Dayo shares his path from managing complex corporate IT systems, where he witnessed executives who were financially secure but "not free," to dedicating his life to real estate entrepreneurship. Dayo's success is a testament to grind: he built an entire logistics company, which grew to over 3...

Solving a $200 Billion Problem: Andrew Jones and the Truck Parking Club I chat with Andrew Jones , VP at Truck Parking Club , about the severe shortage of safe truck parking, a problem that costs the logistics industry over  $165 billion a year. Andrew's journey into this booming niche began after a lunch meeting with a broker, which led him to investigate the 10x problem of 3 million trucks with...

Join me for a powerful conversation with Noah Springer , Chief Strategic Officer of Extra Space Storage . Noah takes us back to his roots on a small farm in Central Illinois and shares the "life-defining moment" that sent him on a mission trip to Guatemala at 19, an experience that instilled a self-confidence he credits for his success. We trace his career from trading bonds at a bank to joining E...

I sit down with Chris Salerno , Founder, President, and CEO of QC Capital , to discuss why Small Bay Industrial Flex has become such a hot asset class. Chris shares how QC Capital, which started with a focus on car washes, pivoted after seeing the "oversaturation" in the self-storage market. We discuss the inevitable cap rate compression coming to this sector and why speed is key now, before insti...

I had a fascinating conversation with Robyn Schoch , Senior Vice President of Tri-Bridge Construction , about her journey from the boxing ring to the demanding world of self-storage construction . Robyn shares that her love for the industry comes from the tangible results of construction and the camaraderie it brings. She tells me, "I love the product type", emphasizing her commitment. Robyn expla...

I'm joined by Tyler Prime, a legal expert who specializes in the self-storage industry. Tyler and I discuss how he found his way into this "niche industry" and the powerful motivation of "Family is always a number one priority" for many industry players . Tyler offers critical insights for developers, emphasizing that understanding local regulations is crucial for development . We break down the c...

Join me as I sit down with Jordan Kader, Business Development Director at MLCO Construction, for a powerful conversation about the unexpected path that led him to the self-storage industry. A former wrestler with "cauliflower ears" to show for it, Jordan shares how his time on the mat instilled a relentless work ethic and discipline that he now applies to his professional life. We discuss the crit...

In this episode, I interview RJ Fischer, Director of Acquisitions for Doors and Spaces, about the emerging asset class of Small Bay Flex. RJ shares his journey into this sector, which was informed by his background in appraisal. We discuss how the market for this type of industrial real estate is still evolving, noting that "the information is very fragmented" , making open information sharing cru...

Join me on Stories Behind the Door for a captivating conversation with Todd Sheppard, President of FutureLink Inc., a leading expert in self-storage security and technology. Todd shares his unique and unplanned entry into the industry, which started with a simple repair job and led him to discover a business with a "very relational" and supportive culture. Todd delves into his company's core philo...

Join me on Stories Behind the Door for a captivating conversation with Alex Burnam, Vice President of Acquisitions at StorageMart. As a member of the third generation of the Burnam family in the business, Alex offers a unique perspective on the industry's evolution and its current challenges Alex provides a candid analysis of the acquisition market's rapid decline from its 2021 peak, explaining ho...

Join me for a conversation with Jordan Feldman, Director of Operations at The Feldman Companies, a powerhouse in self-storage development.  Jordan, who was "born into" the business , shares his journey from a high school internship on a construction site to a key role in a company that has built over three and a half million square feet of self-storage . Jordan candidly discusses his company's abi...

Join me on Stories Behind the Door for an inside look at the self-storage construction business with Nick Judie, Vice President of Martin Commercial. In this episode, Nick shares his fascinating journey into an industry he never planned to join. Nick explains how a downturn in the Houston office market led his general contracting firm to pivot to self-storage in 2014 . He discusses the significant...

Join me for a masterclass on the self-storage industry, led by my colleague and mentor, Barry Sherman. As a licensed architect turned developer with three decades of experience, Barry provides a rare historical perspective on the industry's economic cycles and how to navigate them. Barry shares his firsthand experience from his first downturn in the mid-'90s, contrasting it with today's market, wh...

Ready for a deep dive into the history and future of the self-storage industry? In this long-awaited episode of Stories Behind the Door, I sit down with Stephan Ross, a true veteran of the self-storage world and an expert in feasibility studies. Stephan takes us back to 1985, sharing his beginnings as a live-in manager for National Self Storage. He recounts the early days of the industry when a fe...

Join me for an engaging conversation with Ryan Treadwell and Kyle Kaniho, the visionary developers behind The Garage Den, a unique Small Bay Flex project in Centennial, Colorado. Ryan and Kyle share their compelling entrepreneurial journey, revealing how their search for business space led them down the path of developing Small Bay Flex units. They open up about the daunting challenges of navigati...