2009 marks the 34th Anniversary of the Self Storage Association (SSA), the only national U.S. not-for-profit (501-c-6) organization serving the industry. The SSA represents more than 6,000 U.S. member companies as direct or indirect members (via 23 affiliated state associations) that own and operate more than 22,000 facilities in the United States. Also, the SSA is affiliated with several international associations representing more than 5,000 facilities worldwide, in Canada and in twelve European nations, in Australia, Asia, South Africa, South America, Central America and in the Caribbean.  SSA is proud to serve members in 20 nations around the globe (see Join SSA). View SSA's Code of Ethics.

The SSA regular (corporate) members range from individual facility owner-operators and investors, to multiple-facility operations, to the industry's largest publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Also, the SSA represents hundreds of individual industry executives, self storage facility managers and more than 200 vendor firms.

SSA's Mission

It shall be the Mission of the Self Storage Association (SSA) and its subsidiaries to become the world's premier not-for-profit trade organization representing the best interests of the self storage industry.  The Association shall be the industry's foremost communicator as well as informational and educational resource to its membership, the general public and the news media.

Specifically, the Association shall labor diligently to enhance the business viability of its members and to expand the industry through promotion of the usage of self storage.  Also, the SSA shall strive to advance public awareness of the industry and to enhance the image of the industry in the eyes of the general public, government, the news media and our residential and commercial customers.

The SSA shall represent the industry before the U.S. Congress, federal regulatory agencies, and work with other national, regional and state associations to represent the self storage industry's interests before all other governmental entities.

The SSA shall work to bring together multi-national, national, regional and state self storage associations to fulfill its Mission and to serve as the principal clearinghouse of industry data and information, working toward common goals.

The Association will strive to serve all of its members equally regardless of type or size and to maintain an industry environment of fair competition at all times.

Adopted by the SSA Board of Directors (at San Diego - 1/10/2008)

Board of Directors

The SSA Board of Directors is comprised of duly-elected industry leaders from all of SSA's various constituencies including affiliated associations, member companies of all sizes as well as vendor firms.

SSA Headquarters Staff

They are assisted by an able SSA Headquarters staff of 18 association professionals that manage everything from our national facilities database, advocacy and lobbying, meeting planning, communications, educational programs, research, technology tools, membership relations (and member rewards and benefits), association relations, publications & content, and legal information.

Trade Shows and Education

SSA sponsors two national conventions each year. Each September over 2,500 people gather in Las Vegas for the SSA Annual Fall Conference & Trade Show â?? the industry's premier conference and largest pure self storage trade show -- designed for those who have already made a major investment in the industry. Each Spring SSA hosts the International Self Storage Convention & Exposition. The spring event in 2009 will be held at the Hilton Anatole (Dallas, TX) April 1-3.

Additionally, the SSA conducts several other executive education and employee training programs, seminars and workshops annually. (1.) The SSA Owners-Investors Executive Course, a graduate level financial analysis program for direct members (only) will is held in June and November each year. (2.) The SSA Family Business Program is usually held in conjunction with a SSA national conference. (3.) SSA "Super Seminars" for owner-operators are held across the nation at various times. (4.) The self storage facility "Managers Certification Course (MCC)" has trained thousands of self storage professionals with a challenging 4-module curriculum (modules on Operations, Financial Management, Legal Issues and Sales & Humans Relations). The MCC program is taught by the most experienced educators from the self storage community.

The GLOBE Magazine and Publications

The SSA also publishes the monthly SSA Globe magazine with a circulation of more than 16,800 per month.  It is the largest paid-circulation periodical in the self storage industry. Also, SSA publishes several new books, manuals and studies each year, such as the "Self Storage Demand Study" and the annual "Financial & Operational Characteristics of Self Storage Facilities" study and many other helpful industry publications.