If you have a staff-related announcement such as a promotion, new hire or award you would like to include in the magazine, send an e-mail to [email protected]. High-resolution, digital photos are appreciated.

Trachte Adds Eight to Staff

Andrew Hoffman accepted the position of structural engineer responsible for the structural design, calculations, and permit drawing of Trachte Building Systems self-storage buildings. Aaron Davis will be responsible for generating proposals, contracts, plans, construction details and bills of material. Jason Foht is in charge of site plans, permit sets and pricing. Val Pampuch will be creating new parts and revising existing parts in AutoCAD. Jeremy Rasmussen is accountable for new product development, CAD drafting, elevations and assembly details. Jason Bradley will generate proposals, site plans, construction details, erection drawings and bills of material. Eddie Arb joined the customer-service department as technical support responsible for onsite self-storage erectors. Susan Klug is the new marketing assistant accountable for a variety of tasks including local advertising, corporate communication, seminar activities and promotional activities. Info: www.trachte.com 

Lekas Joins Digitech as Account Manager

Digitech International hired Alex Lekas to lead the companys Southeastern team in assisting customers with access control and security needs. Prior to joining Digitech, Lekas oversaw corporate communications and marketing for a global Internet services provider operating more than 200,000 Internet domains in 137 countries. His background also includes 18 years as a radio and TV newscaster in Pensacola, Fla., and Raleigh, N.C. Info: www.digitech-intl.com 

Miller Joins Sentry Self Storage

Lainie Miller joined Sentry Self Storage as a district manager for Southern Florida. Miller most recently was with Extra Space Self Storage as a human resources recruiter. Prior to that, she was the franchise-services manager for Storage USA, working with franchisees and third-party owners. Info: www.sentry-selfstorage.com 

Noahs Ark Development Adds DeIasi

Michelle DeIasi is a new development project manager for Noahs Ark Development. A graduate from Texas A & M University, she served as an intern for the company in 2005. Her responsibilities will include market and feasibility studies in addition to support. Info: www.the1resource.com 

Malave Receives IREM Manager of the Year Award

Investment Real Estate Management (IREM), a provider of self-storage from management services, presented its Manager of the Year Award to Gail Malave, manager of Lumberton Self Storage in Lumberton, N.J. Four other IREM district managers were recognized for various retail achievements. Info: www.investmentrealestatellc.com 

Management Changes for Canadian Mini-Warehouse Properties

Toronto-based Canadian Mini-Warehouse Properties Co., the general partner of Public Storage Canadian Properties, announced the appointment of Vincent Chan to the position of chief financial officer. Chan has been serving as the controller of the company since 2003. He will be responsible for all finance, treasury and investor- relations functions. Troy McLellan, vice president of real estate, will be assuming the duties of Marcus Lowe, vice president of operations, who is leaving the company. Info: 866.772.2623

Supply Side Announces New Hires

Supply Side added five new staff members. Craig Slimmer is director of sales, responsible for managing and leading the inside and outside sales organization. He will also oversee the customer-service department. Prior to joining Supply Side, Slimmer held positions in sales management for the distribution and freight industries. Mike Marcotte is the new sales executive for the Northeast Region and will manage and grow retail business for existing customers as well as sell new moving and storage accounts. Marcotte formally held district manager positions with The Schwan Company and U-Store-It. Virginia Jernejcic is a new buyer. A 30-year veteran of the packaging and paper industry, she held a similar position at Victory Packaging and National Paper. Jane Williams has been hired as IT manager. Don DeCamara is the new marketing assistant to aid with various company marketing initiatives. Info: www.supplysideusa.com 

Macdonald New Trac-Rite National Sales Manager

Gary Macdonald joined Trac-Rite as national sales manager. He will be responsible for defining and implementing new profitable business opportunities, managing sales growth, assisting with product development, and directing the activities of Trac-Rites sales department. Info: www.tracrite.com 

William Warren Group Promotes Two

William Warren Properties promoted Christen Gibson and Denise Snider. Gibson is now director of operations. In addition to maintaining her responsibilities as the main conduit from senior field personnel to the corporate office, she is in charge of running weekly corporate operating meetings and reporting about the current performance of the companys self-storage operations. Snider was promoted from accounts manager to director of accounting. She will continue to oversee the accounting staff, manage financial reporting at the property and corporate level, and disseminate quarterly investor information. Info: www.williamwarren.com 

Higgins Joins Marcus & Millichap

Maren Higgins joined Charles Chico LeClaire and his team with Marcus & Millichap. Her duties include marketing and promotion of subject properties in addition to escrow management. Most recently, she worked for KB Home as a market analyst. Info: www.marcusmillichap.com 

Sperry Van Ness Hires Pitoukkas

Jim Pitoukkas, formerly vice president for Self Storage Brokers of America, joined Sperry Van Ness. His business is centered on advising clients on property valuation, acquisition and disposition. In 2006, Pitoukkas completed approximately $67 million in self-storage transactions. Info: www.svn.com 

Two Promoted at Freedom Storage Center

Theresa Hayden was appointed director of commercial operations for Freedom Storage Center in Treasure Valley, Idaho. Hayden hires, trains and manages sales staffers and develops and implements the storage centers procedures and policies. She also oversees commercial truck rentals, onsite business centers, store supplies and shipping services, self-storage rental operations for the Meridian, Caldwell and Star locations. Before joining Freedom, she managed operations, human resources, education and training, and sales and marketing for several organizations.

John Mays fulfills the position of sales development manager to promote residential and business self-storage solutions, records management and storage, business-center services, and moving and shipping solutions. He brings more than 20 years of outside sales experience and eight years of regional sales-management experience to his position. Info: www.freedomstoragecenter.com