2022 Manager of the Year

Our Operations Managers at StorPlace Self Storage vote each year on manager of the year. For 2022, they voted for our Mount Juliet manager, Margo. We asked Margo some questions to get to know her better and find out what she really wanted our customers and friends to know.

Manager of the Year's Helpful Insights:

What is your favorite part of working at our company?

Being able to work at my own pace. I also enjoy working with great team members and having an OM that cares for her team and helps when/where she can.

What do you like most about the work we do here?

Every day is different. We have the versatility to work in the office and outside on good days. Each customer has a different story to tell.

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

Being able to help customers in their times of need.

How would you describe our company culture?

StorPlace is a unique work environment. We generally work one person per location. The need to balance time inside and outside is essential to provide our customers the best possible experience a premiere storage facility has to offer.  I do believe that StorPlace is fairer with its employees than other companies that I have worked with in the past.

How long have you been with the company?

As of February, 9 years, and 6 months.

What do you think makes our team culture unique?

The understanding that life happens, and we are not unfeeling machines to meet quotas. When we need to take a step out to sort things out, I know my teammates are here for me and willing to step up and help the best they can.

How did you get started in the industry?

After nearly 2 years of several broken promises for job advancement and the realization that I was in an extremely unhealthy, toxic work environment; I began to look for a new job. There weren’t many job listings I could find where I could see myself at long term and the jobs that I did see myself at, I could not apply for due to not having an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. The night that I hit my limit at my previous job; I remember praying before I went to bed to please help me find a better job. The very next day, Nadine stopped in to make a purchase. As I was checking her order, she asked me how much I made, wrote down a potential job offer and asked if I was interested in doing an interview with StorPlace. I was so thankful for the opportunity.

What are your goals for the next few months/years?

Work goals is to complete the winter/spring door cleaning list before summer.

Personal goals are to get through Physical Therapy to be able to go back to the gym to steer my health back on track.

What are some things that you wish people knew about your job?

I would like our customers to understand that our job isn’t stay in the office 9AM-5:30PM. During business hours we can be out of the office doing security checks, cleaning, taking care of little maintenance needs, errands, showing units to potential customers, or helping other customers onsite.

Not to spam call the phone if I don’t answer. Option 4 will allow them to leave a voicemail for me to call them back.

What’s one thing that surprised you about your current role?

Customers are not always honest. (Even when you have camera footage of them…) I find myself more and more often trying to differentiate between what is truth and what is a tall tale.

What's one thing people don't know about you that they would be surprised to find out?

I like to play RPG games and ride 4-wheelers. I also experiment in cooking by not using recipes and throwing unmeasured spices and herbs together.

What’s the last song you listened to?

I listen to a WIDE variety of music. My top current songs on repeat are:

v Noble Maiden Fair – performed by Emma Thompson / Peigi Barker

v Dance of the Druids – performed by Bear McCreary / Raya Yarbrough

v Lyfjaberg -by Warduna

v Dearly Beloved – performed by Coffee Date / GameChops

v Danse Macabre – performed by Sound Adventures

v Dawn of Faith – performed by Eternal Eclipse

v Shining Horizon – from “Soul Stories”

v Rise of the Immortals - performed by Sound Adventures

v Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) – Performed by Hillsong United / TAYA

v Who You Say I Am – performed by Hillsong Worship

v You are Enough - performed by Sleeping At Last

What, if anything, are you currently binge-watching? Or reading?

I am currently reading The Wheel of Time series, book one, “The Eye of the World” by Robert Jordan.

I am currently watching The Last of Us and binge-watching Carnival Row to get ready for the final season.

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

I would like to travel to Ireland or Japan one day.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

To not be afraid to voice my opinions or thoughts.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I would LOVE to have the ability to teleport or fly. This way I can relieve my stress being able to bypass the ever-growing traffic in the area.

If you had three wishes, what would they be?

I may be ever the optimist, but personal life lessons have made me somewhat cynical regarding gifts and wishes. I have learned to never wish for something, because anything handed to you freely will usually have stipulations or repercussions. It is very rare when it does not. If I could wish for something without strings attached, they would be:

v Everyone to be healthy, both mentally, physically, and spiritually.

v Everyone to be financially stable enough to not only make ends meet, but enough to live peacefully and worry free.

v Stop clearing land to build subdivisions and start building up. (Kind of like the Jetsons, but with more people.)

Thanks so much, Margo for your thoughts and feelings on our organization! We truly appreciate the feedback.