KSS eKourier January Edition 2025

FEATURE

2024 SELF STORAGE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

L to R: Sam Kennard, Nikki Lawson (Abacus Storage King), Jimmy Mouzkiotis (Fort Knox Storage) and Moderator Thomas Whalan (RentaSpace).

E very year, the Self Storage Association hosts an annual conference where self storage operators and companies providing products and services come together to learn, network, and share insights about the industry’s latest trends, innovations, and emerging developments. Since the Association's inception in 1991, Kennards has been a strong supporter and advocate. This year, six members of our team attended the conference: Radha Shivakuma (CFO), Chi Ly (Financial Controller), Nicole Bergen and Kellie Robley (our QLD Operations Team), along with myself and Sam Kennard. Held in November, the event took place on the sunny Gold Coast in Queensland. Sam Kennard, currently a Board Member of the Self Storage Association, represents major operators—a further testament to our ongoing commitment to the Association. Having attended many conferences over the years, I can confidently say this was one of the best. With over

400 delegates and approximately 40 trade show exhibitors, this year’s turnout was the largest in the Associ - ation’s history. These impressive numbers reflect the growing interest in the self storage sector and the strength and expertise of the Association’s members. Special recognition goes to Makala French, the Association’s CEO and the Team, for putting together a successful conference. The three-day conference covered a wide range of relevant and timely topics for the industry. Day one kicked off in the morning with sessions on self storage operations, followed by facility tours in the afternoon. We had the opportunity to visit two sites: Storage King Robina and Storlocal Pacific Pines. Day two began with an engaging keynote from demographer Simon Kuestenmacher, who highlighted demographic changes that self storage operators should consider to adapt and thrive in the future. Other sessions included discussions on remote management, legal insights, and a thought-provoking presentation by Evelyn Bereni, a psychological scientist,

who shared practical strategies to boost innovation and productivity. On day three, we heard from interna- tional speaker Mike Burnam, President of StorageMart, which operates over 300 locations across the US, Canada, and the UK. A panel discussion followed, featuring Sam Kennard, Nikki Lawson from Storage King, and Jimmy Mouzaki- otis of Fort Knox Victoria. The panel explored the growing prominence of self storage as an asset class. The day concluded with talks on artificial intelligence in the industry, reflections by Michael Tate (founder of Storage King, recently retired), and an inspiring presen - tation by Mark Mathews, a big-wave surfer. Mark shared his incredible journey of recovery from a life-changing injury, offering lessons that resonated beyond the physical. The conference wrapped up with the Excellence Awards Dinner, celebrating the outstanding contributions of managers, operators, and service providers in the industry.

Darren Marshall Chief Operating Officer

9 Kennards Kourier Jan 2025