09/06 PEOPLE

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 storagenews@vpico.com. High-resolution, digital photos are appreciated.

IREM Recognizes Staffers

Awards were presented at Investment Real Estate Managements annual luncheon for facility managers and corporate staff. Five district managers were recognized for their retail achievements. The event culminated with IREM President John Gilliland presenting two property achievement awards: Donna Childress, of Skippack (Pa.) Self Storage, for Most Improved Property; Theresa and Ron DiMaria, of Quakerbridge Self Storage in Trenton, N.J., for Manager of the Year.

Prior to the luncheon, 41 managers attended the Self Storage Associations Financial Module held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Self Storage Associations March meeting. IREM provides self-storage management services to owners in eight Eastern states, and has a new website, www.investmentrealestatellc.com. 

AAAA Names Managers

AAAA Self Storage Management Group announced the appointment of Betty McQuaid as district manager. McQuaid has 26 years of management experience from a variety of industries and has been with the company for seven years.

AAAA has assumed professional management of Hopeman Self Storage in Waynesboro, Va., with Deborah Markus as the facility manager. Erin Dawson was appointed manager for the East Laburnum facility in Richmond, Va. AAAA Self Storage Management Group is an affiliate of The Nicholson Companies, providing management services to the owners of more than 40 facilities.

Buchanans Maehler Moves to Assistant VP

Buchanan Storage Capital promoted Joseph Maehler to assistant vice president from senior associate. As a capital markets specialist, his primary duties involve the structuring and closing of self-storage debt and equity with the most aggressive capital providers for Buchanans clients. Buchanan arranges debt and equity for self-storage owners nationwide.

Fountain Joins Digitech

Tamra Fountain is the new sales coordinator for Digitech International Inc.s central U.S. sales team. Fountain is responsible for supporting customer relationships, order preparation and fulfillment, and general account service. With an extensive background in customer service and sales, Fountain formerly handled the international service-parts desk for a firm distributing laboratory equipment worldwide, and worked with an IBM-partnering company providing front-end systems for grocery and retail outlets.

PhoneSmart Bolsters Blog Staff

PhoneSmart added Jim Camoriano to its roster of regular blog contributors for The Selfstorageblog.com, Propertymanagementblog.com and the Secretshoppingblog.com. Camoriano was a newspaper reporter before becoming managing editor of a monthly magazine in the property and casualty insurance industry. He is an executive speechwriter and communications strategist. PhoneSmart, based in Columbia, Mo., is a sales-solutions provider for self-storage and property-management companies.

Kolbe Joins Beacon as VP

Beacon Realty Capital, a Chicago-based commercial real estate financial services firm, announced Henry Kolbe joined the company as a vice president. Kolbe will be responsible for originating debt and equity financing for Beacon clients, with emphasis on self-storage, lodging and manufactured-home community properties. He worked in Chicagos community banking industry for eight years, with a focus on acquisition and development financing for commercial construction and land development properties. He is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois.

New Broker Affiliate Joins Argus

Guy Blake joined the Argus Self Storage Sales Network as broker affiliate representing upstate New York and western Connecticut. He is vice president of Upstate Commercial Group in Kingston, N.Y. Blake, who has more than 10-years experience in commercial real estate in the Northeast, is a certified commercial-investment member designee and a certified exchange advisor. Based in Denver, the Argus Self Storage Sales Network assists owners and investors of self-storage through a network of industry-experienced real estate brokers.

Bader Promotes Francis

Bader Co. announced Deborah Francis has been promoted to business development manager. Francis focus will be on managing and increasing customer participation in the companys multifamily housing and stored-property insurance programs. She has more than 20-years experience in the affordable housing industry and was four-times president of the Rural Rental Housing Association of Indiana. Francis was an account manager for Bader Co., which provides point-of-lease renters insurance for multifamily and self-storage industries nationwide.