Students of Storage
Welcome to Students of Storage — the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the self-storage industry. This isn’t your typical business banter — it’s raw, real, and packed with insights from the movers and shakers who’ve built empires behind the roll-up doors. Join us as we sit down with CEOs, owners, and top third-party operators to dive deep into the wins, losses, and lessons that come with building lasting success in storage. From solving industry puzzles to revealing the strategies that move the needle, Students of Storage delivers inspiring stories, perspectives that challenge, and takeaways you can use immediatel
Marketing that Matters with Tyler Suchman
Tyler Suchman, founder of The Storage Agency, shares how local SEO, Google Ads, and a partner-first approach drive smart, sustainable growth in self-storage. With a background spanning sports media, music, and tech startups, Tyler has built a marketing agency serving over 300 facilities nationwide. He walks us through aligning marketing spend with operator goals, cleaning up a facility’s online footprint, leveraging Google reviews, and building trust-based client relationships that last.
Key Takeaways:
(02:12) From sports radio to self-storage marketing.
(06:45) Choosing self-storage as a niche and how they partner with clients.
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How Smart Automation Drives Growth for Storage Owners with Nate Kinet of SafeLease
Nate Kinet, Chief Revenue Officer of SafeLease, shares how insurance, automation, and reputation management reshape self-storage performance. Nate blends a decade of tech-driven insurance experience with deep storage knowledge, showing us how to turn compliance headaches into meaningful revenue and stronger customer trust.
Key Takeaways:
(02:00) Making the shift from tech and insurance to self-storage.
(07:02) Learning from how leading operators drive program adoption.
(10:28) Using technology to streamline compliance and claims.
(14:11) Designing programs that reduce risk and increase revenue.
(16:45) Automating coverage enforcement across...
How Data-Driven Decisions Are Reshaping Self-Storage with Adam Jarrell of American Self Storage
Adam Jarrell, Partner and General Manager of American Self Storage, shares how a background in multifamily real estate shaped his approach to self-storage. From building internal tools like QuickPay links and predictive gate access analytics to adopting business intelligence platforms, Adam outlines how curiosity, data fluency, and a focus on reducing friction drive operational success across his 15+ facility portfolio. He also discusses hiring philosophies, team ownership, and the role of AI in unlocking future efficiencies.
Key Takeaways:
(04:10) Reducing friction in customer workflows improves operational efficiency.
(06:05) Facility-level data...
How Customer Empathy Led to an Industry-Leading Conversion Rate With Jonas Duckett of Store It Quick
Jonas Duckett, Real Estate Investor of Store It Quick, joins us to share his evolution from solo operator to leading a 40-facility portfolio. With 4,000 units and counting, Jonas reflects on building a people-first storage brand, rebranding under a unified name, and how he drives conversions and minimizes delinquency with high-touch customer service. Jonas offers candid insights on lead conversion, rebrand timing, customer retention, and the importance of empathetic communication in collections. We also unpack how he blends automation with personal follow-up to keep operations lean without sacrificing performance.
Key Takeaways:
The Fast Track to Industry Leadership with Cory Bonda of Prestige Storage Capital
Cory Bonda, Principal of Prestige Storage Capital, joins this episode to discuss how operational decisions and reporting rhythms support sustainable portfolio growth. He shares how Prestige Storage transitioned from opportunistic acquisitions to a regional clustering model, why daily visibility into move-ins and churn is essential, and how lead conversion processes are evolving. We also discuss launching an internal tenant protection plan, managing team development through internal promotion, and handling the realities of early-stage operations.
Key Takeaways:
(00:42) Starting in operations to build a practical foundation for strategic decision-making.
(06:14...
Building Relational Capital To Drive Growth in Self-Storage with Mark Poole of Liberty Investment Properties
In this episode, we’re joined by Mark Poole, VP of Operations of Liberty Investment Properties. Mark is a seasoned leader with over 13 years at the helm of operations, development, and growth strategy in self-storage and hospitality. He shares insights into the value of relational capital and how self-storage operations are evolving. Mark also discusses how to scale, adapt, and innovate in a dynamic market, emphasizing the importance of speed, relationships, and hyperlocal marketing.
Key Takeaways:
(01:47) Curiosity and continuous learning help drive long-term success in the storage industry.
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Why Streamlining Systems Is the Key to Growth with Faraz Hemani of Iron Storage
Faraz Hemani, CEO of Iron Storage, joins us for the inaugural episode of "Students of Storage." Faraz shares his journey from working at Oracle and Google to building Iron Storage’s 30-facility self-storage business. He offers valuable insights into remote management, operational systems, scaling challenges, marketing fundamentals, and more. Faraz also discusses practical strategies for lean operations, enhancing customer experiences, and maximizing lead conversions.
Key Takeaways:
(01:07) Transitioning from a corporate career to real estate investing.
(04:35) Building a remote-first business model to create competitive advantages.
(07:01) Why sy...
