Pogoda Cos., a Farmington Hills, Mich.-based self-storage operator that also provides third-party management services to fellow facility owners, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Founded by Maurice Pogoda and his wife, Lori, in 1987, the company that began as a one-man brokerage firm now boasts more than 90 employees. It owns or manages 35 facilities in Michigan and Ohio.
“When I started, no one knew what self-storage was. Today, it is on every real estate investor’s wish list,” Pogoda said. “As the industry changed, so did we. It was a natural progression to add third-party management and get involved as equity owners and developers.”
The firm has brokered the sale of 150 properties with a market value of more than $500 million, according to a press release. Since its inception, it has managed or owned 75-plus facilities comprising more than 4.5 million rentable square feet of storage space. In addition, the company has built or renovated 22 storage properties.
“I’ve had the good fortune of leading a talented and dedicated group of real estate professionals. Without their diverse backgrounds and skillsets, we wouldn’t have had the steady growth that has been our hallmark in good times and bad,” Pogoda said.
The business has garnered local and national attention, and received industry recognition and accolades, the release stated. Pogoda has been a featured speaker at industry events, and has written or been quoted in industry trade publications.
Pogoda was instrumental in the founding of the Self Storage Association of Michigan and served as vice president for its first seven years. He also presented key testimony in legislative hearings that led to significant changes to the Michigan self-storage lien act. Pogoda currently serves on the Self Storage Association Foundation Board of Governors as well as other charitable boards. He and his wife support local and national charities through their personal foundation, the Lori and Maurice Pogoda Philanthropic Fund.
“I like to think that my contributions have had some small hand in helping the industry grow to where it is today,” Pogoda said.
Pogoda Cos. operates approximately 2.5 million square feet of self-storage space. The firm provides brokerage, management and investment services to the self-storage industry through the Pogoda Group Inc. and Pogoda Management Co. divisions.
