SmartStop Asset Management Names New Senior VP of Self-Storage Operations

SmartStop Asset Management LLC, a Ladera Ranch, Calif.-based diversified real estate company that manages 116 self-storage facilities in Canada and the United States, has promoted Gerald Valle to senior vice president of self-storage operations. Valle will oversee day-to-day governance of all the firm’s U.S. facilities branded as SmartStop Self Storage, including a team of 240 professionals, according to a press release.

Valle joined SmartStop last year as vice president of operations. "Gerald is one of the best and brightest in the industry, with more than 30 years of experience managing, operating and maximizing revenue of self-storage portfolios for some of the biggest and most successful brands in the space," said H. Michael Schwartz, founder, chairman and CEO. "He joins a robust executive-management team and a devoted group of employees across the nation who are dedicated to maintaining the finest self-storage facilities and customer service to our clients, as well as maximizing efficiencies and profits for our investors."

Prior to joining SmartStop, Valle spent five years as vice president of operations for The William Warren Group, which operates the StorQuest Self Storage brand. His career includes nearly 15 years with self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT) Public Storage Inc., where he rose to regional vice president of operations. He also spent a decade with REIT and third-party management firm Extra Space Storage Inc., where he served as divisional vice president of operations and vice president of sales.

SmartStop has approximately $1.5 billion of real estate under management. Its self-storage portfolio comprises about 8.5 million rentable square feet. It’s also the sponsor of Strategic Storage Growth Trust Inc., Strategic Storage Trust II Inc. and Strategic Storage Trust IV Inc., all public non-traded REITs focused on self-storage assets.

Source:
PR Newswire, SmartStop Asset Management Promotes Gerald Valle to Senior Vice President, Self Storage Operations