The investigation into the April 8 explosion at a self-storage facility in Hawaii found several safety violations led to the death of five men. The state has recommended hefty fines against the company.

A state investigation found 11 safety violations in connection with an explosion of fireworks at Waikele Self Storage. Employees of Donaldson Enterprises were taking apart commercial-grade cake-style fireworks inside a bunker at the facility when the explosion occurred.

The state is recommending a fine of $415,000 against Donaldson Enterprises. While no single cause of the blast was identified, the investigation found there were many unsafe working conditions and practices that led to the explosion.

Other agencies still investigating the explosion include the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Health Response Team. Donaldson will have the opportunity to dispute the findings and the fines.

Sovran Self Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust, announced a quarterly dividend of $.45 per share of common stock.

The annualized Sovran dividend is $1.80 per share, which, based on Mondays closing share price, equates to an annual rate of approximately 4.9 percent. The dividend will be paid on Oct. 26, to shareholders of record on Oct. 13.

Sovran is a self-administered and self-managed equity REIT in the business of acquiring and managing self-storage facilities. The company operates 432 properties in 25 states under the name Uncle Bob's Self Storage.

Self-storage building manufacturer U.S. Door & Building Components has appointed Jamie Tuck to the position of district sales manager for the southeast region. Tuck is responsible for expanding the companys market share.

For the past 15 years, Tuck has served as president of Tuck, Stinard & Associates Inc., an Atlanta-based architectural firm. He has contributed to the self-storage industry through the design and development of many U.S. projects. He can be reached at [email protected]. 

U.S. Door manufactures self-storage building components including roll-up doors, hallway systems, mezzanines, structural components and relocatable buildings. The company also provides services including renovation, project design, engineering, unit-mix layouts, custom product designs and installation services. It has manufacturing plants in Orlando, Fla., and Mesa, Ariz.

AAAA Self Storage, an operator with more than 50 self-storage facilities in the Southeast United States, this week launched a new affiliate group and website, SelfStorageAffiliates.com, that will help independent self-storage operators save money on various business products and services.

Membership in the affiliate program is free to all independent self-storage owners and offers significant savings using AAAAs group buying power. Optional benefits include access to the companys customer goods protection program, free leads from AAAAs website, including a customized webpage for each affiliate, access to AAAAs marketing and human resources departments, and free benefits and discounts for all affiliate managers.

AAAA Self Storage, founded in 1972, is the self-storage brand name of The Nicholson Cos., a self-storage management and development company owned by Tom Nicholson III. The company continues to be involved in developing, building and purchasing self-storage facilities and providing management/consulting services to self-storage owners.

Norfolk, Va.-based AAAA Self Storage Management Group, a Nicholson Cos. affiliate, provides management/consulting services to the owners of more than 50 facilities throughout the Southeast, containing more than 3 million square feet of space and representing more than $200 million in value. Most of the companys clients operate under the AAAA Self Storage trade name.

By Erica Calka

Whats different about a career in self-storage today? The position of facility manager has become one in which sales, marketing and customer-service experience is essential to business success.

Self-storage operators are just like any other employertheyre looking for people who will not only perform the job functions but be a positive representative with a can-do attitude and team-oriented spirit. They realize their managers are the face of the organization to the public, and the stores performance is only as good as its employees.

Impressing the recruiter is the first step toward embarking on a great career in self-storage. Here are some tips to present you as a top contender in this exciting industry.

Target the Decision-Maker

Networking is the best way to get your foot in the door with an organization. Joining social-media outlets such as LinkedIn or Facebook can introduce you to people within your targeted company. By showcasing yourself to them privately instead of blindly submitting your résumé into the sea of candidates will give you an edge.

Find out who the human-resources manager is and submit your cover letter and resume to him directly. If you know an owner or higher-level manager, these people can be instrumental in recommending you as a great candidate. Many times, it can be who you know and how you present yourself creatively that gets you to the next step.

Clean Resume = Neat Candidate

Lets face it: Your résumé is what paints your picture in the recruiters mind. You have only 20 seconds tops for your resume to do the trick. Spelling errors, unintelligible run-on sentences and experiences you dont really haveis that your best representation?

Proofread your résumé to ensure sentences are to the point and make sense. Always highlight your experiences to what the job requires. If a job posting asks for sales and marketing experience, be specific on those accomplishments. Write what percentage increase in sales you achieved on average per year, how many contracts you generated on average per month, what networking organizations you belong to, and marketing plans you developed to increase your business.

Do not to stretch the truth. Above all else, be honest and accurate in your résumé, and be sure you can back it up when it comes to the interview.

Cover-Letter Karma

If you submit a cover letter, dont just change out the company name, position, etc. Personalize it. The recruiter typically sees the cover letter first. It should explain why he should hire you, but without rehashing the content of your résumé. Use your background to demonstrate why youre the best candidate for the job. If the cover letter is redundant, you just wasted five seconds of your 20 to impress.

Phone-Screening Techniques

Some companies do phone screenings before the interviews to filter out candidates. A facility managers job is partly conducted on the phone, and you have to be able to impress new and existing customers with your voice. Generally, the interviewers questions will be about your prior work history, why you left positions, and your strengths and weaknesses. Basically, they want to know why they should hire you.

Practicing interview questions with a friend or family member will make you more comfortable and able to avoid hesitation. Be upbeat and put a smile on your face. The interviewer will be able to hear it, guaranteed. Being pleasant on the phone can play a big part in your progression to the next stepthe coveted in-person interview.

The Interview

When it comes to the interview, all the old-fashioned advice still holds true:

• Be on time
• Dress professionally
• Research the company and its competition
• Be ready with questions

All of these show the interviewer youre prepared and serious about the job and will be a great representative of the company. To set yourself apart from the other candidates, research the company and competitors around the facility to which youre applying. Make it a priority to learn about the differences between facilities and prepare some ideas for what you would do to increase leases, merchandise sales, etc.

When it comes to interviewer questions, remember honesty is the best policy, and focusing on your sales, customer service and marketing abilities are essential. Explain what you would do in the job, how you take initiative and how you stay organized. Ultimately, the interviewer wants to know how you will drive the business.

Give your answers with confidence and assertiveness and avoid using the phrase I dont know to buy yourself time to think about your answer. If you have to pause, a better response would be, Hmmm, thats a great question, or repeat the question to make sure you understand it. This will allow you to gather your thoughts without looking like youve been caught off-guard.

Prepare a list of questions to show youre engaged and want to learn more about the company. For example, ask what career-growth opportunities are available or the companys goals for the next five years. Thank the interviewer for his time, tell him your interest in the position, and always ask when you will hear back from him on the next step in the interview process.

Write a Thank-You Note

Send a thank-you note via snail mail. The fact that you took time to handwrite a note in this day of e-mail, texting and tweeting shows you care. Make sure the note card is professional and subduedleave the loud colors and artwork for friends and family. Express your interest again, and reference one or two of your key experiences to drive home that you are the right candidate for the job.

Candidates with sales and marketing backgrounds will do well in the self-storage industry. By creatively marketing yourself, having an impressive cover letter and résumé, being prepared for the interview, and showing your gratitude for the opportunity to learn more about the position, you will boost yourself through the ranks.

Erica Calka, is the human-resources manager for LifeStorage Centers LLC. She has more than 11 years of HR experience, emphasizing recruitment, employee-policy development, employee benefits and employment law. LifeStorage has 18 facilities throughout the Chicagoland area. For more information, visit www.lifestorage.net.

LifeStorage, a ChicagoLand operator of self-storage facilities, has promoted Shalonda Siler from storage manager of its South Loop location to area manager, providing continual sales, marketing and customer-service training at eight LifeStorage facilities. Siler will also assist the district manager in the day-to-day overview and operations of the district and be involved in the recruitment and hiring of new store managers, coaching and retention, team building, and customer relations.

Siler started with LifeStorage in 2009 a manager of the then brand-new South Loop store. Within two years, she and co-manager Janean Smith helped bring the occupancy rate up to 58 percent. Through a focused sales and marketing strategy and a strong community presence, Siler has proven her managerial skills lead to results.

Shalonda's knowledge of the self-storage industry, LifeStorage training formats, and the technology of our systems for day-to-day operations has enabled her to be a leader among her peers, said Michelle Wight, district manager. Her sales and customer-service savvy brings continuous accolades from her customers as well. She is the perfect person for this job.

Her ability to engage her local community and bring awareness of our brand to the South-Chicago area has brought us many new business clients and rental opportunities, Wight continued. Siler and Smith recently hosted a Toast of Appreciation luncheon for 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell at the South Loop facility, and have participated in several community outreach programs and business networking groups.

For Siler, the announcement comes as a welcome shock, and as a new opportunity and challenge. Upon hearing of the promotion, I was completely caught by surprise, said Silder. Knowing that I work for a company that believes in its employees enough to see potential for growth, is, well, awesome! I know that LifeStorage has a full range of talented people and to be chosen for such a position is an honor. I look forward to the challenge, and I'm all in!

LifeStorage Centers LLC, with 18 self-storage facilities, was founded in 2002 by owners Jean Jodoin and Christopher Barry.

On Oct. 1, MiniCo Insurance Agency LLC opened a sweepstakes for independent insurance agents to win a trip to Las Vegas for the Inside Self-Storage World Expo, the self-storage industrys largest annual event. For each full insurance application for a self-storage risk submitted via MiniCos online agent portal between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, the applicant will receive one entry into the drawing.

This is the ninth year MiniCo has offered this drawing. The latest eligible account effective date for the requested coverage quotation is March 31, 2012. One prize will be awarded by random drawing on Jan. 5. The prize includes travel and hotel accommodations for two, $300 in cash, and two passes to attend the ISS Expo, March 14-16, 2012 at the Paris Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas.

This is a great opportunity for agents to become familiar with our online agent portal, which significantly streamlines the submission process and makes it easier for agents to do business with MiniCo, said Mike Schofield, president and CEO. The winning agent will have an opportunity to meet top operators from all over the nation and learn more about the self-storage industry.

Official rules and regulations for the contest are available at MinicoInsurance.com/win.

The ISS Expo is a comprehensive education and product/service event for self-storage owners, operators, managers, developers and investors. It comprises three days of seminars, networking events and vendor exhibits. Show details can be found at www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com.

Phoenix-based MiniCo has provided self-storage insurance programs since 1974. The company carries an A.M. Best rating of A.

MiniCo is a member of the Aran Insurance Services Group of Rockville Centre, N.Y. Aran is a full-service general agency and underwriter that specializes in acquiring and developing insurance underwriting facilities for the property and casualty and accident and health markets.

National Storage in Brisbane, Australia and Chicago-based Heitman, a real estate investment management firm, have entered into a partnership to purchase 20 storage properties in Australia. The facilities were purchased for $175 million from APN Fund Management and the Investec Property Opportunity Fund.

The properties in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Sunshine Coast and Sydney encompass 1.1 million square feet and 11,000 units. National will operate the properties and will include the Wine Ark brand, a wine-storage provider.

The joint venture plans to expand the portfolio with additional acquisitions, according to Andrew Catsoulis, National Storages managing director. National Storage currently operates 60 facilities in Australia. It hopes to add 40 more within the next two to three years. National was formed in December 2000 following the merger of Stowaway Self Storage, National Mini Storage and Premier Self Storage.

Stor-Age Self Storage opened phase I of the new Stor-Age Bloemfontein in South Africa. The facility, branded and managed by Stor-Age Self Storage, is on Sand Du Plessis Avenue. It has exposure to passing traffic for commuters entering the city from the east, as well as those exiting the city on route to Bloemfontein International Airport.

Construction of phase I was completed on time and within budget, with the construction commencing in April and taking six months to complete. The store provides self-storage space over two floors and includes all of Stor-Age's key development attributes. On completion of phase II, the facility will consist of more than 500 self-storage units and 7,000m2 of self-storage space, with unit sizes ranging from 3 to 30m2. 

Stor-Age is the largest self-storage company in South Africa with a portfolio of facilities in operation and under development.