Forward 2020
A Virtual Event

The Northeast, Maine, and New Hampshire Self Storage Associations are hosting a joint 2-day virtual education event on November 4th & 5th. With the cancellation of their fall shows, the associations are teaming up to provide education to their members and their state self storage industries.

Rather than dwell on what should have been, we are determined to look forward to the coming year, opportunities, and possibilties. Let's look ahead and learn what processes, regulations, trends, and technology can help you succeed in the future.

The agenda and registration is below. Session descriptions will be updated as soon as possible, so check back often for new information!

Wednesday, November 4th
10:00 AM    Welcome
10:15 AM    Automation: Is It for Everyone? with Matthew Beal, Storable
Sponsored by Easy Storage Solutions
Join us to discuss the full range of automation and how it can be more simple and practical than you may think. Automation isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. When it’s tailored to your operation, your business can run more efficiently and effectively while improving the tenant and staff experience.
11:30 AM   New Normal or Not! Operational Best Practices – Pandemic or Not! with Lynn Sykes, Storage Asset Management
Sponsored by PTI Security Systems
Industry expert Lynn Sykes has seen most everything in her 19-year career. In this presentation, she will offer up best practices that will help you continue to operate during any crisis, prosper during a pandemic and economic downturn, go more virtual for rentals, and create a great customer experience in our “new normal.”
12:45 PM   When Will It End: Legal Considerations During the Coronavirus Pandemic and Beyond with Joe Doherty, Self Storage Association
Massachusetts and Rhode Island facilities can look forward to this session as SSA’s Chief Legal & Legislative Officer will present state overviews from the COVID-19 pandemic and answer your questions. He will also provide tips for avoiding wrongful sale claims in the future, collection guidance, what new rules and regulations you should know, and more.
2:00 PM     How to Understand and Make the Most of the 2019 New Hampshire Lien Law Updates with Joe Doherty, Self Storage Association
Almost a year has passed since the lien law was successfully updated in New Hampshire, and even though the pandemic interfered in NHSSA’s efforts to update its members, they remain committed to getting this information to you. SSA’s Joe Doherty was instrumental in the law’s passage and will address everything you need to know, such as specific changes to the lien law, updates you need to make to your rental agreements to comply, changes to your lien sale procedures, etc. He will also answer any questions you may have.
3:00 PM      Adjourn

Thursday, November 5th
10:00 AM    Welcome
10:15 AM    Market Evaluation, Cap Rates, Aftermath of Initial COVID-19 Impacts, and Where the Market is Heading with Kevin Bledsoe, Investment Real Estate, LLC
One of the most frequent questions asked over the last 90 days from self storage owners is, "What are you seeing in the market as a result of COVID-19 and what will be the short-term and long-term effects?" More specifically, self storage owners want to know if occupancy is down at facilities, how bad delinquency issues are, what is happening with property values, if new construction projects are moving forward, what will happen to property values in the near future, how day-to-day operations have changed, if they should process rent increases, and what the future of our industry is. Our speaker talks to thousands of owners from across the country every year, ranging from single property owners to CEOs of the country's largest REITs. His company subscribes to data collection programs in order to keep a pulse on the industry and works to understand where they see the market heading as we enter 2021. Let's take some time to understand where the market is going and what owners are doing to prepare for the future.
11:30 AM    Taking Your Auctions from Chaos to Control with Alonna Ross, StorageAuctions.com
In this session we will be covering aspects of both online and live auctions. Key presentation points include how to operate and prosper during the pandemic and possible recession, new auction trends, auction automation, and tips for a successful auction.
12:45 PM    Legal Operations of Self Storage Facilities in the 'New Normal' of a Pandemic with Scott Zucker, Weissmann Zucker Euster Morochnik & Garber P.C.
Sponsored by Goodman-Gable-Gould Adjusters International
Join self storage attorney Scott Zucker for an extended session that will provide state-specific updates for Maine and Connecticut along with a portion on general best practices, operational issues, and of course, Q&A. We will cover topics recommended by you including new rules and regulations, collection guidance, liability during the pandemic, and more.
2:30 PM      Adjourn