Strat Property Management Launches Capital-Markets Division for Self-Storage Industry, Hires Executive Director

Strat Property Management Inc. (SPMI), a consulting, management and real estate firm focused on self-storage, has launched a capital-markets division called SPMI Capital. The company also named Neal Gussis as its executive director of capital markets. He’ll be responsible for securing debt and equity for the SPMI’s privately owned portfolio and providing loan-advisory services to other self-storage investors, according to a press release.

Most recently, Gussis was a principal of Chicago-based CCM Commercial Mortgage, a company he cofounded a decade ago. He began his career in 1992, providing financing for commercial real estate owners as a direct CMBS (commercial mortgage-backed securities) lender, and has served clients in a mortgage-brokerage capacity since 2000. Gussis has sourced more than $5 billion in debt and equity solutions for self-storage clients. He’s also contributed articles to industry publications, such as “Inside Self-Storage,” and presented at conferences including the ISS World Expo. Gussis graduated from the Kelly School of Business with a bachelor’s in business and is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois.

“As we have grown our real estate portfolio during the past 25 years, we have consistently looked to Neal and his companies to secure debt for us. Since the early 1990s, we have relied on his group to source debt on countless self-storage transactions and, together, we have experienced and navigated through several capital market cycles,” said Don Clauson, CEO of SPMI. “Neal has always proven to be resourceful and creative, no matter the overall market conditions; and, above all, his authentic, kind, honest and ethical reputation is beyond approach. In every cycle and all conditions, Neal has played a meaningful role in our ability to effectively utilize leverage to grow our property portfolio while balancing a conservative approach. It is an honor to have him as part of our SPMI team and to launch our new SPMI Capital division.”

SPMI manages 80-plus self-storage properties comprising more than 6 million square feet. Additionally, it oversees 50-plus apartment buildings and is involved in multi-family development.