TSSA's 2020 BIGGER IDEAS CONFERENCE SESSIONS AVAILABLE ON DEMAND
Bet on Yourself & You'll Always Win: Overcoming Setbacks
Everyone has faced failure or a significant setback in their lives. It’s what comes next that matters. Keynote speaker Molly Bloom faced a setback most can’t fathom when the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game she ran was the target of a F.B.I. sting. Coming from a family of high achievers and facing humiliation, she could have given up after that devastating turn of events. Instead, she used lessons learned earlier from her father when she became the No. 3 ranked mogul skier in North America, even after major back surgery. Bloom changed her life and went on to write the bestselling memoir, Molly’s Game, convincing Aaron Sorkin to write the screenplay, for which the film earned an Oscar nomination. In this inspiring talk, Bloom will share her true story and life lessons to explain how betting on yourself in business and life will always lead to a win.
(Molly's presentation will be available only until November 13, 2020. You will have access to all other presentations for one year.)
Molly Bloom is an inspirational keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Molly’s Game. She began her career as a world-class skier, joining the U.S. Ski Team and ranking No. 3 in North America at 21 years old. After setbacks, her Olympic dreams would go unrealized, leading her to what she thought would be a year sabbatical in LA. Bloom was finishing her degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado – Boulder, and in the process of applying to law school when her assistant job turned her into an accidental entrepreneur, running one of the most exclusive, high-stakes underground poker games in the world, pulling in as much as $4 million per year. What happened next is where her story truly begins.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Contactless Rentals--The New Reality?
COVID-19 changed the way we interact with customers and this new way of rentals may be here to stay. Discover how you can use online (or kiosk) rentals to streamline your tenant’s experience and what you need to know to protect your facility from rogue rentals and problematic tenants.
Beth Austin, Tenant Inc.; Jeff Bateman, Storage Choice; Robert Chiti, OpenTech Alliance; Bobby Grover, Big Tex Storage (moderator)
So Much Technology....So Little Money. What Do I Really Need?
Utilize your existing resources to automate daily processes and facility management so you can focus on the customer experience and increase occupancy. This panel will share their insight on the latest in technology automation including tenant billing and management, online rentals, remote facility and unit access, online auctions, and other technology that is innovating self-storage.
Bentley Alsup, The Storage Place DFW; Darren Kelley, Right Move Storage; Monty Rainey, RPM Management; Josh Nacol, Storage Rise LLC (moderator)
Amplify the Customer Experience, Starting with Your Website
Does your website offer a user-friendly experience designed to meet your business goals? Learn how you can use simple tools to review analytics that allow you a glimpse of the customer experience and decision-making process. Is your website only for viewing or is it a functional tool? Discover how you can use your website to improve the customer experience and increase your occupancy.
Chris Carrol, Automatit; Niko Stoenescu, Storable; Tommy Nguyen; StoragePug (moderator)
How Not to Fail at Social Media Marketing and Get Your Mother-in-Law (and Your Customers) to Share Your Posts
Social media continues to grow as a marketing tool. Find out why what you are doing now isn’t getting the results you want and how you can easily implement a few changes to boost your reach. Get ready to revamp your social media strategy and deliver the right message to reach the right audience.
Dr. Steven Vrooman, Texas Lutheran University
OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT & LEGAL
It’s Okay, Karen! Turning Angry Customers Into Believers
Learn easy-to-implement conflict management tips for dealing with difficult customers. Understand how to see past their unruly objections and negative attitudes, empathize with their situation, and turn it into a positive outcome. Carol will share her experiences with difficult customers and techniques for de-escalating heated situations.
Carol Mixon-Krendl, SkilCheck
When Disaster Strikes: Will You Flounder or Float?
What have we learned from the pandemic? Are you prepared when a crisis hits? From fires and floods to break-ins, you should have a plan in place ahead of time to walk you through a difficult situation. Learn how you can prepare yourself prior to a disaster so you don’t flounder when it’s time to float. The panel will share:
• How to address common issues following the impact of the crisis or disaster;
• How to communicate with your staff and tenants to provide a level of comfort;
• Where your liability ends and your tenant insurance begins;
• And, how you can rebuild your reputation after recovery.
Katie Cowen, Tom Maxfield, Jose Munoz, and Tim Springer, Move It Self Storage
Stop Competing with the REITs and Start Outshining Them
Your marketing budget may not be able to compete with the REITs, but your reputation can. How can you use your customer experience and community impact to have a favorable impact on your occupancy? The panel will discuss proven ways to hack the system and show your value proposition in a competitive market.
Raheem Amer, Devon Self Storage; Denise Bowley, Self Storage Science, LLC; Cassie Dodgen, Pinnacle Storage Properties, Amy Nolan, The Storage Place (moderator)
Legal Update with TSSA Legal Counsel Connie Heyer
TSSA legal counsel will give a brief update on the top foreclosure “don’ts” to make sure you stay in compliance and protected, as well as other top legal concerns that are trending in self storage today. Always one of our most-popular presentations, Connie will leave time to answer a few burning questions from attendees.
Connie Heyer, Niemann and Heyer, LLP, TSSA Legal Counsel
AQUISITIONS & DEVELOPMENT
Joining the Party: Understanding the Risk of Entering the Market Now
There are many considerations to factor in when getting into self storage. You need to look at the good, the bad, and the ugly. Before joining the party, you need to be diligent in determining supply, securing a feasibility study and ultimately, the biggest decision of all, deciding whether to buy or build.
Rick Jones, Advantage Self Storage; Ann Parham, The Parham Group; Robert Loeb, SurePoint Self Storage (moderator)
Sunny with a Chance of Rain: What the Economic Forecast has in Store for Self Storage
What does the future hold? Learn what is happening in the economy and what it means for your self-storage business. Dr. Mark Dotzour will provide an economic overview and highlight what it means for self storage, including the impact of:
• REITs on independent owners in any industry
• Population growth in Texas
• Demographics and spending habits of consumers
• Interest Rates and Bond Markets
• Outlook for Small Business Owners
Predicting the future may not be an exact science but anticipating the economic impact to your business can help you prepare for any future.
Dr. Mark Dotzour, Real Estate Economist
Dr. Mark G. Dotzour is an economist specializing in commercial real estate. He spent 18 years as the Chief Economist of the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, and now focuses his time analyzing current economic conditions and advising his clients, which include banks, private equity firms, real estate investment trusts, construction firms, engineering companies, wealth managers, private foundations, and commercial and residential brokerage firms.
Shark Tank Analysis of Properties for Sale: Will the Buyers Bite?
There isn't a seller’s guide to selling your facility, but we’ve invited a panel of aggressive buyers to share some insight on what stands out to them when seeking new properties. The “sharks” will take a look at properties and offer a hard-hitting analysis that you will not want to miss if you are considering buying or selling a property. They will share tips on what they are looking for now, what you can do to improve your market value, and what factors into their decision to buy.
Bill Bellomy, Bellomy & Co.; Bill Brownfield, Brownfield & Associates LLC; Nathan Bennett, Wasatch Storage Partners; Matt Janes, Rosewood Property Company, Clint Wynn, Hixon Properties Incorporated (moderator)
Today’s Landscape of the Self Storage Marketplace
What has changed in buying, developing, and expanding self storage in the current market and in the new era of COVID-19? This panel will provide a 360-degree view from the perspective of a broker, developer, and lender. Key topics will include: how to evaluate a quality investment, avoiding risks, and changes in the lending process, a review of the current state of deal flow and buyer competitiveness.
Shawn Hill, The BSC Group, LLC; Wayne Johnson, SmartStop Self Storage REIT; Dave Knobler, Marcus & Millichap; Chris Martin, Ideal Self Storage
What the Numbers Say Now: Self Storage Market Performance Indicators
We will share the numbers, but let’s dig into what that means for you. Get ready for a deep dive into the self-storage market.
· How is new development affecting performance?
· What markets are overbuilt and what markets are showing potential?
· What is the current rate performance across markets?
· How is occupancy trending?
· How has COVID impacted the market?
· What is the impact of REIT activity?
Chris Nebenzahl, Yardi Matrix and John Manes, Pinnacle Storage Properties