In this rebroadcast of our live webinar, attorney Joe Doherty joins Melissa Huff and Tommy Nguyen to unpack the most pressing legal topics facing self storage owners and operators in 2025. From website privacy lawsuits and predatory ADA claims to evolving lien laws and tenant disputes, this session is packed with practical legal insight.

You'll learn:

• What 2025's biggest legal trends mean for your facility

• Key updates on rent control, website compliance, and arbitration

• How to handle tenant death, gate damage, and unit disputes

• Legal pitfalls to avoid—and what issues may be overhyped

• What's coming in 2026 and how to prepare now

Don't miss Joe's answers to real owner-submitted legal questions and his top 3 legal tips for every storage operator.

Watch the YouTube replay- 2025 Storage Legal Update

Guest: Joe Doherty, Legal Counsel for the Self Storage Association

Hosts: Tommy Nguyen & Melissa Huff

Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Lighthouse Storage Solutions

In this special episode, Melissa and Josh reflect on a big moment: being featured on the cover of Modern Storage Media's October issue! 🎉 They share what it means to be recognized and the exciting shifts happening behind the scenes at Lighthouse Storage Solutions.

Melissa opens up about her recent transition away from managing a state association to focus fully on Lighthouse, and together they break down how state self storage associations actually work—including the difference between affiliate-run vs independently run states, and how the Self Storage Association (SSA) supports the industry at the national and state level.

💡 Episode Highlights:

• What led up to being on the cover of Modern Storage Media

• Melissa's transition away from from state management in TN and LA

• How self storage associations work—from SSA to state-run events

• Differences between affiliate and SSA association models

• Lighthouse updates, what's coming next, and a heads-up about no new episode next week!

Modern Storage Media October Messenger Issue - Preview Here

October Surprise Newsletter - Read Here

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Do you really know who's renting your storage units?

In this episode, Josh and Melissa Huff dive into one of the most overlooked aspects of effective self-storage marketing: creating clear, specific buyer personas. Understanding your customers is the first step to attracting more of them—and retaining them longer.

We break down how to analyze your current rent roll to identify customer patterns, segment renters into meaningful categories (happy vs. sad customers), and craft profiles that can guide your marketing, sales messaging, and customer service.

💡 Key Highlights

• Why buyer personas are essential for self-storage marketing

• The difference between "happy" customers (e.g., new homes, hobbies) and "sad" customers (e.g., divorce, downsizing, death)

• How to read your rent roll to uncover your core audience

• Practical walkthroughs of two buyer personas:

  • Alice: A recently divorced mom of two teens navigating transition

  • Mike: A 50-year-old side hustler growing a cornhole board business

• How to tailor your marketing and facility experience to each persona

Plus… the October surprise you've been waiting for 👀

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Whether you're a hands-on owner-operator or a passive investor looking to scale, finding the right management style can make or break your self-storage success. In this episode, guest host Brad North walks us through the various management setups—from on-site managers and remote tech-driven operations to hybrid and hub-and-spoke models.

We explore the real pros and cons of each option, when it's time to shift your approach, and how to assess your facility's needs based on size, staffing, and customer expectations. Brad shares practical insights from his own journey starting as an owner-operator, growing through third-party management, and mystery shopping his way to operational clarity.

If you've ever wondered how to choose between self-managing or hiring a third-party team—or how to optimize customer service, marketing, and upkeep across different styles—this episode is for you.

💡 Key Highlights

• The evolution from DIY operations to full-scale third-party management

• On-site vs. remote: balancing cost, control, and customer service

• When hybrid or hub-and-spoke models work best

• What to look for (and avoid) in a third-party vendor

• Signs it's time to re-evaluate your management fit

• Tips for auditing your management performance and making transitions

Watch the YouTube replay- Choosing the Right Management Fit

Guest: Brad North (Advantage Consulting & Management)

Hosts: Tommy Nguyen

Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Lighthouse Storage Solutions

None of us would go a year between oil changes for our cars. I can't even go 6 months without descaling my Keurig. But how long has it been since you did a tune-up of your self storage facility? The word "Audit" has gotten a bad wrap over the years, but it is one of the most essential things you can do to ensure your facility runs smoothly and avoids major issues.

Today, we tackle why audits are important, the key things to look for if you do an audit yourself, and several red flags to look for that may trigger the need for an audit. You may think your operation is running smoothly, and perhaps it is, but waiting until things fall apart isn't the time to schedule a tune-up. Regular audits are the keys to preventing theft, legal trouble, maintenance problems, and much more. As good old Ben Franklin once said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Another generational event has happened, and it's worth taking a break from self storage to talk about. The events of yesterday, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, remind us of the last great generational tragedy from 24 years ago today. In both cases, evil individuals plotted and carried out deadly killings against people and ideals they disagreed with. Innocents lost their lives, children were left without parents, wives were widowed, and our nation was shaken to its core. But even amidst the sorrow, hope was there. Perhaps this most recent event will also bring the unity that comes in the aftermath of death.

Charlie knew that his death was a possibility. He got threats all the time. So why did he keep speaking out, engaging in dialogue and seeking cultural change? He did it because he was driven by something deeper, something more important than his own life. He knew he was fulfilling a calling given to him by God. He burned bright in that calling and wasn't shy about declaring where his true hope was anchored. He had the hope of Christ, and he wanted others to share in that hope, in the joy of a life lived according to principles he found in scripture.

We share in that same hope, rooted in Jesus, and look forward to the day when we will see Charlie again.

Podcast Resources: Psalm 11

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

If you're like us, you didn't make it out to Vegas this year for the Self Storage Association 50th Anniversary Conference. But don't despair! We have tons of other ways to find the education, networking, and vendor updates you need to keep your business competitive. Whether it's in-person events, virtual webinars, podcasts, or papers, we share all our recommendations for finding out what you need to know in our industry.

So, break open a bottle of wine, pour a glass of bourbon, and enjoy those at home prices as we talk about tons of non-Vegas options to scratch that trade show itch. Here are the linked key resources we touch on in the episode:

• In person events (find the full calendar from ISS right here)
• Virtual Events like the Gabfocus Webinar
• Podcasts a plenty, all listed on the Modern Storage Media podcast website
• Articles about everything self storage from StoragePug, Inside Self Storage, Modern Storage Media, Lighthouse, and SSA

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Today we focus on something every self storage operator hopes they never have to face—but absolutely need to be ready for: disasters. When the worst happens, every decision matters. Kevin Leebrick and Scott McLaughlin join Tommy and Melissa to share real stories from their own crisis experiences—fires, floods, and more—and the lessons they've learned the hard way.

We cover:

• What to do (and avoid) in the first 24–48 hours after disaster strikes

• How to support distressed staff and tenants

• Dealing with insurance gaps, communication breakdowns, and repair delays

• How to prep your facility now: checklists, safeguards, and budgets

• What disasters aren't typically covered by insurance

• Tips for multi-site operators and high-risk areas like flood zones

• The top 3 pieces of advice our guests would give to every operator

Disasters don't wait. This episode gives you the tools to prepare, respond, and recover stronger.

This webinar originally aired on August 21, 2025 .

Watch the YouTube replay- Disaster Prep & Recovery Webinar

Guests: Kevin Leebrick (NoDa Self Storage) & Scott McLaughlin (Sentry Self Storage Management)

Hosts: Tommy Nguyen & Melissa Huff

Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Lighthouse Storage Solutions