Our professional management team is the reason for our success. If you have any other questions about who we are or what we do, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.
James Gail - President and sole shareholder
James Gail, President and sole shareholder of J. Gail & Associates Realty and Management, Inc. and the Synergy Storage Group has 31 years of property management experience of which the last 24 years have been in the self-storage industry. The Synergy Storage Group specializes in the management, development and brokerage of self storage facilities. Gail currently has twenty-six storage facilities under a fee management contract which are owned by various syndication's, partnerships and sole proprietors which are located in Florida, Arizona, Alabama and Idaho. These properties range from small (300 unit) to large (1000 + unit) storage facilities. The company has a proven track record demonstrated by lease up statistics, enhanced property valuations, and financial performance. All of the properties under contract are at the top of each of their market segments with regard to rate and occupancy performance. Gail and his management team are directly responsible for the successful turnaround of several facilities which were at the time of take over losing money. This was accomplished through operational changes, training and by soliciting and negotiating long term leases with commercial tenants including Continental Bakery, Bausch & Lomb and Frito Lay.
From August 1976 - July 1988 Gail held various management positions in the hotel industry working for Westin Hotel Corporation, Brock Hotel Corporation and Lincoln Property Company. While in this capacity he was also assigned several consulting projects which included hotel operations advisor for the renovation of the Dearborn Inn for the Ford Foundation, hotel reorganization manager for the restructuring of the Lincoln Post Oak Hotel - Houston and writer/editor of the Lincoln Hotel Corporate Rooms Division Operations Manual.
Gail holds his real estate brokerage license in the state of Florida and has sold thirty-two storage properties valued at over $115,650,000 in the past few years. He has been involved in the development of over fifty self storage facilities and currently has ownership interest in six facilities. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Denver, his writings have been published in the Mini Storage Messenger, he is a member of Delta Sigma Pi, and is a past Board Member of the Self Storage Association, as well as, being a Trustee for the Florida Self Storage Association.
Carole Johnson - Regional Manager - Southwest Florida
Carole Johnson, is a Regional Manager for the Synergy Storage Group covering the west coast of Florida from Bradenton to Naples. She gained her training in the storage industry as a property manager with the Synergy Storage Group beginning in 1993. Under her management she was able to improve and make an aging facility prosper to the point where it maintained a 94% plus occupancy while maximizing the income and reducing expenses. Since that time she has managed several different facilities both as a property manager and regional manager and has been a consistent producer of top income and occupancies.
Prior to entering the storage industry, Carole Johnson worked in the building industry with Tri County Aluminum, Blue Heron Irrigation and Waterford Construction / Landco Development. Her duties included material take-offs from blueprints, scheduling subcontractors and building costs on all custom homes.
Carole has lived in the Sarasota / Venice, FL area for more than 30 years where she stays involved in her children's school and sports activities.
Scott Kelly - Management Consultant
Scott Kelly, is a Management Consultant with Synergy Storage Group. Scott has been in the self-storage industry for 13 years, with experience in both Property Manager and General Manager capacities. He has lead the lease-up of two Canadian self-storage facilities from conception to 98% occupancy (one in less than 12 months), while maintaining low delinquency and commanding the highest rent rates in the market. Scott was licensed in Commercial Real Estate in Canada, relocated to Florida in 2005, and now carries his Florida RE License as well. Here he has consulted all over Florida, from Largo to Cocoa, and from Tallahassee to Miami. Achievements include expansion of facilities under contract from 17 to as high as 31, and has consulted in Florida, Alabama, Idaho, Texas, and Arizona. In 2010 Scott was elected as an alternate on the Florida Self Storage Association Board of Directors. He served by contributing to Educational Seminars in Tampa, Sarasota, and actively participated in the annual FSSA Trade Show in Orlando, FL.
His areas of specialty are consulting services that include Feasibility Studies, Unit Mix Analysis, Lease-up Pro forma's, and Consulting Expertise for owners who require the services of a professional Management company.
Scott has consulted in five of the United States, and in two provinces of Canada, and is President and Owner of SSG Consulting, Inc. He is excited to partner with Jim Gail as a Management Consultant to aid in the growth and development of Synergy Storage Group.
Cody Hayes - Regional Manager - Western Region
Cody Hayes, is our regional manager in based in Phoenix, AZ and is the newest addition to the Synergy Storage Group professional management team. He managed two storage facilities in Tampa, FL and New Port Richey, FL. He also took over the management at a very troubled facility in Palm Springs CA. Most recently he has taken on a project in Phoenix working from the bottom up by helping with the construction, as well as, being the start up manager for Camelback & 83rd Ave Self Storage. Currently, he manages our properties which are located in the Western Region of the United States from Arizona to Idaho.
His ability to demand above market rates and continue low delinquency statistics has made his facilities some of the top performers in his region. Cody is also very instrumental in hiring, training, and motivating his staff which in turn leads to long term retention resulting in increased occupancy and revenues.
He is currently working on getting his Arizona Real Estate License and is anxious to continue with property development, consulting and facility management across the United States.
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